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.
Date of composition | 1924 |
Premiered | 1924, February 12th in New York, NY, United States |
Type | Rhapsody |
Instruments |
Piano
Bass Clarinet Tenor Saxophone Tuba Timpani Percussion Glockenspiel Gong / Tam-Tam 3x French horn 3x Trumpet 3x Trombone 2x Flute 2x Oboe 2x Clarinet 2x Bassoon 2x Alto Saxophone |
Autotranslations beta |
George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue |