Gershwin: Strike Up the Band

Ira Hearshen is one of America’s most popular and successful orchestrators and arrangers. He has written for many Hollywood films, such as Toy Story and The Scorpion King. He has also written for the concert stage, especially wind band, notably his Pulitzer Prize-nominated Symphony on Themes of John Philip Sousa, which is adventurously constructed, richly melodic and colorfully scored. His unique takes on Strike Up The Band and There’s No Business Like Show Business provide moments of rich humor whilst the Divertimento for Band mines the American jazz vernacular with true rhythmic verve.

Ira Hearshen’s music is colourful and hugely approachable. It’s often also laced with broad humour and wit. The Divertimento has been recorded on a compilation album called Rendezvous released by a number of American composers’ band music back in 2001 (Klavier Record) and on a couple of Mark Records discs by the US Air Force Band, again compilation CD. The Symphony is also on a Mark Records compilation disc released in 2003.

This collection includes pieces from “Gershwin at the Keyboard” (Originally called George Gershwin’s Songbook), as well as some of his piano preludes. Containing some of the composer’s most popular songs from shows and musicals, we have favourites such as Fascinating Rhythm, The Man I Love and ‘S Wonderful. Waagaard is an Associate Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music.