Summertime: Adaptations
Lead Sheet Transcriptions
The images below represent lead sheets found in illegally published "realbooks" and "fakebooks." These books have long been an important source of music for members in the jazz and pop communities. The following examples come from the most circulated and widely known examples of such books, the first being from Vol. 2 of the "Realbook," which is a collection of leadsheet transcriptions--some dubious--supposedly compiled by Berklee music students, transcribed from famous jazz source recordings. (The images below come from the author's personal library.)
As one can see from a comparison of the above leadsheet transcriptions, all three present the song in a different key from the original, two in a minor, a commonly published alternative to b minor. Further, aside from a uniquely crafted vamp in the "Colorado Book's" version, all three incorporate substitute harmonies throughout, omitting the parallel minor chord progression in the beginning entirely.
Published Big Band Arrangement
Below is a score excerpt from a more modern adaptation of "Summertime," arranged by Dave Wolpe for jazz big band, and published by Warner Brothers Music. Though presented in C minor, this arrangement more closely resembles the original, including much of the underlying thematic material found in the vocal score, e.g., the saxophones in measure 11, and the trumpets in measure 18. This arrangement opens with material taken not from the original aria, but from Porgy's theme in Act 1, Scene 1. (Below is also a complete recording of the arrangement taken from an accompanying CD published with the arrangement.)