Rhapsody in Blue

George Gershwin originally titled the piece American Rhapsody changing it later to Rhapsody in Blue, defining the bold and daring experimental features of his music. Gershwin was rushed to complete the work for a performance that Paul Whiteman was programming, which aimed to establish the new American jazz style as part of the standard repertoire. In January 1924, Gershwin’s assignment was to write a jazz concerto. It was originally written for piano and jazz band, with parts scored by Groféth. Gershwin performed at the premiere from memory, never anticipating Rhapsody in Blue becoming a masterpiece. The composition is famous for its synthesis of jazz and classical ideas but at the time it was just “An Experiment in Modern Music”.

“It was on the train, with its steely rhythms, its rattle-ty bang that is often so stimulating to a composer (I frequently hear music in the very heart of noise) that I suddenly heard—and even saw on paper—the complete construction of the Rhapsody from beginning to end. …I heard it as a sort of musical kaleidoscope of America—of our vast melting pot, of our unduplicated national pep, of our metropolitan madness. By the time I reached Boston I had the definite plot of the piece.” — George Gershwin

— Kristina Marinova