Sometimes, I get a bit of a milestone for myself and it’s fun to share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASC-t4PoV0k

This is my arrangement of Gershwin’s Summertime for solo trumpet and this student orchestra. This is not really representative of what I do on a regular basis - this is the first piece I’ve written for a (relatively) full orchestra and also the first recording of this quality that I’m aware of that has gotten onto youtube of something I’ve written. Such things aren’t easy to come by.

TromboneAndrew - 22 June 2011 05:07 AM

Sometimes, I get a bit of a milestone for myself and it’s fun to share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASC-t4PoV0k

This is my arrangement of Gershwin’s Summertime for solo trumpet and this student orchestra. This is not really representative of what I do on a regular basis - this is the first piece I’ve written for a (relatively) full orchestra and also the first recording of this quality that I’m aware of that has gotten onto youtube of something I’ve written. Such things aren’t easy to come by.

Congrats Trombone! I liked it.

Love Gershwin’s stuff. Must have been interesting to work on the arrangement. Thanks!

That’s probably one of the sexiest songs out there.

Sounds really good,I gotta admit I’m not familiar with Gershwin though.

Loved the arrangement and execution.

Was Gershwin the first to marry classical with the blues? He composed a lot of music with blues influence. Porgy and Bess was a masterpiece (1935).

http://www.squidoo.com/greatest-cover-song-ever

Just found Jerome Kern composed “Ole Man River” (Showboat) in 1936, but is not really blues based.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh9WayN7R-s

Did some more digging.

Wow…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_music

That is a beautiful arrangement of a classic tune. The trumpeter’s bluesy style meshes perfectly with the orchestra. Excellent work all around.

The sneeze at the end was a great touch, but I suspect it was not part of the arrangement.

mid atlantic - 22 June 2011 04:02 PM

Sounds really good,I gotta admit I’m not familiar with Gershwin though.

George Gershwin was a pianist and composer; his brother Ira was a lyricist and songwriter. They co-wrote this one. Their biggest project (and arguably most successful) was the already mentioned Porgy And Bess. George also wrote the ever-popular Rhapsody In Blue.

Write4U - 22 June 2011 04:41 PM

Loved the arrangement and execution.

Was Gershwin the first to marry classical with the blues?

Definitely not. W. C. Handy was one of the first to do it to public success (he wrote St. Louis Blues) but I suspect that blues, classical, and virtually any other possible style to be found in the U.S. were blended in various ways ever since they arose, especially in the cosmopolitan musical centers like New Orleans.

And thanks for the encouragement, folks! I’m glad you enjoyed it.