George Gershwin
Catfish Row — euphonium excerpt
A compact audition passage from Hunsberger's band transcription, testing whether rhythm and articulation speak in Gershwin's idiom.
| Composer | George Gershwin |
|---|---|
| Composed | 1936 |
| Era | 20th century |
| Type | Wind Band Excerpt |
| Difficulty | advanced |
| Available scorings | Wind Band |
| Duration | ~2 minutes |
| Clef | bass, treble |
| Arranger | Donald Hunsberger |
| Technical demands | jazz inflection, syncopation, flexible articulation, ensemble timing |
| Good for | band audition, excerpt study |
Correct rhythm is only the beginning. The excerpt needs a flexible American accent: syncopations lean and release, note lengths relate to the groove, and heavier attacks are saved for genuine structural emphasis.
Listening to Porgy and Bess as well as the band transcription helps prevent a square reading. In an audition, style has to register immediately without becoming a caricature.