Rhapsody In Blue: Gershwin May 2026

: Due to time constraints—Gershwin composed the concerto in just five weeks—the orchestration was handled by Whiteman’s arranger, Ferde Grofé . Grofé created multiple versions over the years, including the original jazz band scoring (1924) and the more common full symphonic version (1942). Musical Structure and Themes

The work is characterized by five primary musical themes that repeat and expand in a call-and-response style: : The main opening theme.

: The iconic opening clarinet wail was not originally in the score. During rehearsals, clarinetist Ross Gorman played the opening scale with a humorous, sliding glissando. Gershwin loved it so much he asked Gorman to keep it as a permanent "ice-breaker" for the piece. Rhapsody In Blue: Gershwin

: Gershwin claimed the piece's full construction came to him during a train journey from Boston to New York, where the "steely rhythms" and "rattlety-bang" of the train inspired the work's momentum.

Gershwin was initially reluctant to take on the challenge, reportedly only starting work after reading a news report that Whiteman was already planning the performance. : Due to time constraints—Gershwin composed the concerto

George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue stands as a monumental achievement in American music, famously bridging the gap between classical symphonic structure and the raw, rhythmic energy of jazz. Premiered on , at New York's Aeolian Hall, the piece was commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman for a concert titled "An Experiment in Modern Music". Composition and Creation

'Rhapsody in Blue,' Gershwin's musical melting pot, at 100 : NPR : The iconic opening clarinet wail was not

: The lush, slow middle theme (famously used for years in United Airlines commercials). Impact and Controversy