Which version of Rhapsody in Blue?

[alanismarie]

Hello,

This summer I want to set myself the task of learning Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin. Tricky task, I know, but I am determined. I want to buy the sheet music (ideally in a book form so I don't loose any pages) but these are so many different versions of it!
Which version would be the best to get and where is the best place to get it?

Thank you!

[visitor]

 
more info is needed, what is the performance goal? ie are you to play with w/ an orchestra? 2nd piano? are you wanting to work on a solo transcription?
what is your experience with collaborative works of this type (ie concerto, etc)?
what is your experience with 20th century music and jazz idiom? Have you played Gershwin before?Do you have coaching/instruction available?

above matters.
ie. if you are working solo piano, and do not have a lot of experience with this type of music or Gershwin's works, and if you will have minimal instructcion, i HIGHLY recommend the solo version by Herman Wassermann, here's why
The main/old solo transcription was not completed by Gershwin but a staff arranger at Harms. It is unnecessarily difficult and awkward with little extra musically to be gained for the extra effort.
Wassermann was Gershwin's piano teacher and likely knew his music almost better than anyone, so when he was approached to revise it and make it a better solo piece, he did so to a marvelous degree, the instructions and re laying out of the parts make so much more sense. And although not nearly hard as the original, there wans't much reason for the  first to be that bad, the Wasserman sounds just as great, if not even better as a solo piece. It's the one I  have. It's not easy but manageable and people both experienced and less familiar w/ this type of music would have a great score to work with/from. It is also adaptable to the piano + ensemble with some modifications if you wanted to play it later with orch/wind band and not have to learn it again  

if you're competing, using for a jury/exam or playing w a std ensemble then the original 2 piano version /reduction is the way to go.

there's a nice version for piano + wind band (i love these modifications btw i've played another piano + orch work as a  piano + winds version and i thought it was better than the original).

the less familiar you are w/ the music/composer/style the more editing you'll probably want to have, where there are multiple versions, i say get the one you like best and then borrow library copies of the others to make notations of the editorial remarks or differences in your margins on your score for later consulting.

here's the intro from the published version
https://www.alfred.com/Products/Rhapsody-in-Blue--00-PS0048.aspx
To provide greater availability for a work of such importance, the original publishers secured from Gershwin a solo piano version wherein the orchestral parts are fused together with the solo piano part (PS0047). Due to concerns that the composer's arrangement presented too many technical demands to pianists not possessing the requisite technique, a modified arrangement was delicately solicited from pianists of the time. (Gershwin's untimely death precluded any modification from the composer himself.)

Many attempts at technical modifications were rejected on ethical grounds until Herman Wasserman--who taught Gershwin to play the piano--submitted a manuscript which became this edition. Several prominent pianists who reviewed the score all attested to the amazing reduction in technical demands while retaining the clarity, sonority, and brilliance of the original. This edition is designed for Early Advanced pianists, although some sections, including the well-known Moderato middle section, are accessible to those performing at less-advanced levels.

[indianajo]

if you're competing, using for a jury/exam or playing w a std ensemble then the original 2 piano version /reduction is the way to go.

Thanks.  I've been learning the 2 pianos version, which I though to be "original", but had my doubts since Ferde Grofe had so much to do with the original recorded version.  Goal- one performer on piano, another on theatre organ.  I could be either: I'll have to do the "arranging" for organ myself of course.  Simple since the sounds do resemble the band instruments somewhat. 

[visitor]

 
I wish the 2nd rhapsody would get more attention, i actually like a lot things about it better than the first...