'Rhapsody in Blue,' Gershwin's musical melting pot, at 100 : NPR
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
: The lush, slow middle theme (famously used for years in United Airlines commercials). Impact and Controversy
The work is characterized by five primary musical themes that repeat and expand in a call-and-response style: : The main opening theme.
: 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.
: Representing the mechanical, rhythmic pulse of 1920s urban life. Stride : A nod to the Harlem stride piano style. Shuffle : A jazz-inflected rhythmic section.
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 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