Customer Reviews

Complete Works for Solo Piano (Alfred's Masterwork Editions)

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Of all the Gershwin books out there this one possibly contains the most quality arrangements for the price. It not only contains the full piano solo version of Rhapsody in blue, which takes up over 20 pages, but also his early classics like Swanee, Sweet and Low Down, and Novelette in Fourths. It contains a good chunk of his early piano solo works like I Got Rhythm variations but it also does leave out some of his most famous works like An American in Paris, which is another piece that takes up over 20 pages typically, and his Bessie and Porg songs are left out. Still, for the price it does contain the all famous Rhapsody in Blue in its most popular arrangement style and a lot of his other classics, more than most other Gershwin books.

I guess the title of this review says it all. The usual quality for this type of manual. Is should stand up to moderate use for quite a few years.

Here is all the good solo music by Gershwin. A lot of it is hard, too. Here is the solo version or Rhapsody in Blue. Not only the 3 preludes are here, but others that were originally intended as part of that grouping. The song arrangements (The George Gershwin Songbook). Even some incomplete compositions are here. Don't think these are for the average home pianist. These were for George himself, and he had honed his pianistic abilities to the best. But to have this music in one volume is a treat for anyone.

These songs are well-arranged. They sound great. You need to be quite an advanced pianist to play them or else be willing to put in some serious practice. It's worth it!