The title “Rhapsody” refers to a musical form of free structure, while “Blue” conveys the sense of melancholy and urban sophistication found in jazz and blues. Throughout the piece, Gershwin vividly depicts the hustle, energy, dreams, and hopes of New York City through music. The opening clarinet glissando is particularly famous, instantly drawing listeners into the sound world of the piece.
While rooted in classical form, the work incorporates elements of jazz such as syncopation and blue notes, creating a revolutionary sound for its time. Even today, it remains one of Gershwin’s most beloved and frequently performed masterpieces around the world.
This arrangement by Keisuke Nishi captures the rich character of the tuba, transforming the work into an impressive large-scale piece?definitely worth the challenge!
■Arrangement Details(explanation:Keisuke Nishibu)
When performing a concerto-style work originally written for piano and orchestra in a chamber ensemble setting, one major challenge arises: the need to express music that was meant to be shared between a solo piano and a full orchestra with only four performers. As a result, the original depth and variety of tone colors can easily be lost.
To address this, this arrangement goes beyond a simple redistribution of notes, incorporating numerous ideas to preserve the essence and richness of the original work. In many arrangements, the piano solo sections are often shortened or omitted, but here they are treated as highlights unique to the tuba ensemble and retained as much as possible. When performing, it is highly recommended to study the original score or orchestral recordings carefully, so that you clearly understand which sections were originally for the piano solo.