A Portrait of George (Gershwin)

[jeopardymaster]

I'll be playing this Frank Proto piece real soon, and just got the part. Fairly straightforward except that there is a spot marked "Solo" in it that covers close to 3 octaves. I can't tell how fast, how exposed, or whether it is even a solo per se. I'm working it up - not too horribly bad except for this high a flat that I have to sit on, but for how long I can't tell. It's a note I can hit most of the time but can't do a whole lot with. The suspense is getting the better of me. Any experience on this piece out there? Have any of you folks played it?

[jeopardymaster]

I played it. It's a solo, and meaner than cat dirt. At tempo (half note = 152) it is pretty ridiculous. Thank God Frank Proto played the concert - he told me he wrote the part for Mike for a recording session because Mike was uncomfortable improvising. (Someone else said Mike asked for something difficult, but that it took a LOT of takes.) I suck but there were only 2 chords so I went for it, going back and forth between what was written and stuff that wasn't. They let me do it in the concert, so I guess it didn't suck TOO bad. Word to the wise: if you ever see the part in front of you, Frank says it's OK to play something else. Great piece of music, by the way.