Over The Rainbow for Solo Piano - Arranged by Thomas Gunther

This is my (Thomas Gunther’s) Solo Piano Arrangement of Over The Rainbow. You can find the complete sheet music along with practice tips and other versions at PopJazzKeys.com/Over-The-Rainbow. The arrangement is suited for intermediate to advanced players. There are different technically demanding elements to it, from polyphony (which require great finger independence), to the techniques associated with the Romantic period, like the ability to work the sustain pedal, arpeggios, and playing thick chords. ABOUT THE SONG Over The Rainbow is one of my favorite classic jazz standards. Most of you might know it from the classic movie The Wizard Of Oz, for which it was actually composed (and sung by Judy Garland). I love everything about this song, it’s melody (which is so cleverly based on a descending diatonic stepwise motion during the [A] section), the harmony, and of course the lyrics that inspire us to believe there might actually be more to life than what we are experiencing day in and day out, well worth dreaming about and searching for. ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LYRICS To me it is important to study the lyrics of a song before I start arranging it. The lyrics guide me in my search for how I want the arrangement to impact the listener emotionally. #Over The Rainbow for Solo Piano The lyrics of Over The Rainbow: Somewhere over the rainbow way up high There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true Someday I'll wish upon a star And wake up where the clouds are far Behind me Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly Birds fly over the rainbow Why then, oh, why can't I? If happy little bluebirds fly Beyond the rainbow Why, oh, why can't I? 00:00 - First Marker 00:40 - Performance 03:29 - Invaluable Practice Tips 04:47 - How to start practicing