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The Concerto for Piano, Winds, and Percussion is intended as something of a poor man's Rhapsody in Blue. While not as long or as challenging as the Rhapsody, none-the-less, the jazzy sections should drive and swing, the Latin sections should sway, and the slow section should sing like Italian opera. Please note that for the upbeat jazz sections [Beginning to letter C, letter D through the cadenza, Letter H through m. 152, and letter K to the end], the off-beat is on the second eighth note of each beat. Hence, the Tempo indication, eighth note = 168, at the outset. All the percussion parts can each be rendered by a single player, but multiple players might be used, especially for Percussion 2 and 3. The following instruments are optional, though their inclusion would enhance the performance: Oboe 2, Bassoon 2, and Double Bass. Conductors should note that all 6/4 measures are basically 4 + 2, and all 5/16 measures are grouped 3 + 2. Only the soloist plays during the 5/16 measures.
