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