Rhapsody in Blue

E226040

Rhapsody in Blue is a landmark 1924 composition by George Gershwin that blends classical music with jazz influences and is celebrated as a defining work of American concert music.

All labels observed (2)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf musical composition
orchestral rhapsody
associatedCity New York City
associatedMovement Roaring Twenties
surface form: Jazz Age
catalogNumber Gershwin work without official opus number
commissionedBy Paul Whiteman
composer George Gershwin
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
culturalSignificance iconic representation of 1920s American urban life
dateOfComposition 1924
describedAs defining work of American concert music
firstRecordingArtist Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra
firstRecordingSoloist George Gershwin
firstRecordingYear 1924
genre classical music
jazz
symphonic jazz
hasForm free rhapsodic form
hasNotableFeature integration of jazz idioms into concert hall setting
hasOrchestration 1924 jazz band version by Ferde Grofé
1926 theater orchestra version by Ferde Grofé
1942 full symphony orchestra version by Ferde Grofé
hasRhythmCharacteristic ragtime and blues influences
hasTheme syncopated jazz-inspired melodies
influencedGenre symphonic jazz tradition
inMusicHistory landmark of early 20th-century American music
key B-flat major
language instrumental
length approximately 15–17 minutes
movementStructure single-movement rhapsody
notableArrangementBy Ferde Grofé
notablePerformer George Gershwin
Paul Whiteman
surface form: Paul Whiteman Orchestra
openingMotifFeature clarinet glissando
originalEnsembleType jazz band and piano
originalInstrumentation piano and jazz band
partOf American concert repertoire
placeOfPremiere New York City
premiereDate 1924-02-12
premiereEvent An Experiment in Modern Music
premiereVenue Aeolian Hall
publisher Harms Inc.
rightsHolder Gershwin estate
soloInstrument piano
styleFusion blend of classical music and jazz
usedIn United Airlines advertising campaigns
film Fantasia 2000
yearOfPremiere 1924

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

George Gershwin notableWork Rhapsody in Blue
Paul Whiteman notableWork Rhapsody in Blue
this entity surface form: Rhapsody in Blue (premiere performance)
Gershwin estate hasRightsOver Rhapsody in Blue
Irving Rapper directed Rhapsody in Blue