Rhapsody In Blue: | Gershwin

'Rhapsody in Blue,' Gershwin's musical melting pot, at 100 : NPR

: 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. Rhapsody In Blue: Gershwin

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

: 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 'Rhapsody in Blue