Rhapsody in Blue
"Rhapsody in Blue" is a celebrated musical composition by George Gershwin, commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman in 1923. The piece premiered on February 12, 1924, in New York City at Aeolian Hall during a concert titled "An Experiment in Modern Music," with Gershwin himself performing at the piano. Recognized as an American musical masterpiece, it was groundbreaking for its fusion of jazz and classical styles, earning national attention and acclaim. Gershwin drew inspiration from the rhythmic sounds of a train during a journey, which influenced the development of the piece. Initially titled "American Rhapsody," it was renamed "Rhapsody in Blue" by Gershwin’s brother, Ira, inspired by painter James McNeill Whistler's use of color in titles.
Ferde Grofé, Whiteman's chief arranger, adapted the score for a larger orchestra, enhancing the performance's impact and showcasing individual musicians' talents. The piece was notable for its innovative inclusion of jazz elements, such as "blue" notes and instruments like the saxophone and banjo, during a time when jazz was typically associated with smaller groups. The initial performance captivated audiences with its unique sound and has since become an enduring symbol of American music, illustrating the successful blending of two distinct musical traditions.
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Rhapsody in Blue
Identification: Landmark orchestral work combining elements of jazz and classical music
Composer: George Gershwin
Date: February 12, 1924
Popular bandleader Paul Whiteman commissioned composer George Gershwin to write a new piece for his orchestra in 1923. In February 1924, with Gershwin himself at the piano, Rhapsody in Blue premiered in New York City’s Aeolian Hall as part of a program titled “An Experiment in Modern Music.” The composition was an instant success and continues to be recognized as an American musical masterpiece.
Gershwin was a noted composer by his early twenties, having established his reputation among the collective of songwriters and sheet music publishers known as Tin Pan Alley and also composing Broadway musicals and such vocal hits as “Swanee” for entertainer Al Jolson. Gershwin once remarked to Whiteman that he hoped to create a major jazz composition someday. Soon afterward, newspapers reported that Gershwin’s new work was to be premiered in an upcoming concert. This announcement surprised the composer, because he had not even begun to write the composition. Despite his hectic schedule, Gershwin began planning his new work. During a train ride to Boston, the incessant rhythmic clatter of the train on the tracks heavily influenced his conception of the new jazz rhapsody. When completed, AmericanRhapsody was a score for two pianos in one movement that Gershwin submitted to Whiteman’s chief arranger, Ferde Grofe´. Gershwin’s brother Ira, a lyricist, felt American Rhapsody was an ineffective title. Inspired by the use of color in titles of paintings by artist James McNeill Whistler, Ira renamed it Rhapsody in Blue.
Familiar with the special talents of orchestra members, Grofe´ adapted the score to magnify individuals’ talent and increase the piece’s musical impact. The revised score was finished just eight days before the premier, which was attended by notable celebrities such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, John Phillip Sousa, and Jascha Heifetz, along with numerous music critics. The opening clarinet glissando left listeners spellbound and eager to hear what followed.
Impact
Rhapsody in Blue was the first crossover jazz and classical composition to receive national attention and to be premiered in a prestigious concert hall. In a decade when jazz was generally performed by small Dixieland-style musical groups in New Orleans, New York, and Chicago, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue featured a big band jazz arrangement augmented with strings and specialty instruments: The use of “blue” notes, along with jazz-oriented instruments such as saxophone, banjo, and accordion, characterized Gershwin’s concept of jazz in the 1920s. Written at a time when jazz and “serious” music were not considered compatible, Rhapsody in Blue successfully combined them and became an enduring piece of American music history.
Bibliography
Hyland, William G. George Gershwin: A New Biography. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 2003.
Peyser, Joan. The Memory of All That: The Life of George Gershwin. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993.