Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture (arr. Bennett)
- Composed by: Gershwin
- Duration: about 25 minutes
Orchestration: flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 alto saxophones, tenor saxophone, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (bass drum, chimes, cymbals, sandpaper, snare drum, tom-toms, woodblock, xylophone), banjo, 2 harps, and strings
Dr. [Fritz] Reiner selected the portions of the opera that he wanted to play and also set the sequence of the excerpts. He expressed his ideas as to instrumentation, wishing to make generous use of saxophones and banjo and to dispense with Gershwin’s pet instrument, the piano.
I proceeded not only to follow Dr. Reiner’s ideas faithfully, but also to remain completely loyal to George’s harmonic and orchestral intentions. In other words, although carrying out Dr. Reiner’s approach, I have been careful to do what I knew — after many years of association with Gershwin — Gershwin would like as a symphonic version of his music.
— Robert Russell Bennett, in the liner notes for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s 1945 recording of the work