Rhapsody in Blue is a 1924 musical composition by American composer George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects.
Commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman, the composition was orchestrated by Ferde Grofé several times, including the original 1924 scoring, “theater orchestra” setting published in 1926, and the symphony orchestra scoring published in 1942, though completed earlier. The piece received its premiere in the concert, An Experiment in Modern Music, which was held on February 12, 1924, in Aeolian Hall, New York, by Whiteman and his band with Gershwin playing the piano.
The editors of the Cambridge Music Handbooks opined that “The Rhapsody in Blue established Gershwin’s reputation as a serious composer and has since become one of the most popular of all American concert works.”
Join the KC Jazz Orchestra for a performance of this piece on Saturday May 9th at the Helzberg Hall, 8pm. Please call 913-381-2711 for tickets or visit kauffmancenter.org.
