The Cultural Impact: Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and American Music

This essay analyzes George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," a 1924 musical composition for solo piano and jazz band commissioned by Paul Whiteman. It examines Gershwin and Whiteman's aim to create a uniquely American music by fusing classical and jazz elements. The essay argues that the composition was successful, establishing Gershwin's reputation and influencing later jazz musicians, becoming a 'musical portrait of New York.' It highlights the work's significant impact, noting its popularity and inspiration to musicians like John Serry Senior, Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang. The essay concludes that "Rhapsody in Blue" forged a new direction for jazz, blending classical and jazz to represent New York's musical landscape, and influencing countless musicians since its creation. Desklib provides students with access to similar essays and study tools.

Running head: GEORGE GERSHWIN - RHAPSODY IN BLUE
George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1GEORGE GERSHWIN - RHAPSODY IN BLUE
Introduction:
Rhapsody in Blue is a musical composition that was made by the American composer
George Greshwin in 1924 to be played on solo piano and jazz bands and incorporates both
classical as well as jazz elements.
Discussion:
-What were George Gershwin and Paul Whitemen setting out to achieve?
Paul Whiteman, who was the bandleader commissioned George Gershwin to compose
a musical piece that can be used for an ‘all jazz’ concert that he planned to perform in the
Aeolian Hall in New York City in 19241. The idea was to create an ‘American Music’ that
would involve elements from Classical as well as Jazz to create something unique and new
for the 1924 concert (An Experiment in Modern Music) which can reflect upon the
contemporary form of ‘modern music’ in the era2.
-Were they successful?
The composition was hugely successful and it successfully incorporated the elements
of Classical music and Jazz elements to create a ‘modern’ form of music and it established
the reputation of George Greshwin as a serious composer and the composition have become
one of the most iconic masterpiece of all American compositions. The rhapsody became so
popular that in the first 3 years, it was already played 84 times by the band and it sold a
million record copies making it a huge success3.
1 Borle, S. (2017). The Music in George's Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blue
by S. Slade. The Deakin Review of Children's Literature, 7(1).
2 Block, G. (2017). Arranging Gershwin:“Rhapsody in Blue” and the Creation of an
American Icon. By Ryan Raul Bañagale. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014. Journal
of the Society for American Music, 11(2), 246-249.
3 Orchestra, U. W., & Rohrer, T. P. (2016). In Concert Rhapsody in Blue.

2GEORGE GERSHWIN - RHAPSODY IN BLUE
-Was this a valid direction for Jazz that would influence its future?
The composition was greatly influential for many later Jazz musicians and thus
provided a direction for the creation of a new form of Jazz sound that was characteristic and
typical of its time and place and has been considered as the ‘musical portrait of New York’.
Musicians such as John Serry Senior, noted composer and accordionist were significantly
inspired by this track that influenced his later works. Even the legendary Jazz legends such as
Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang performed this song in the 50th Grammy Awards4.
Conclusion
Rhapsody In Blue created a new direction for Jazz music by incorporating elements of
Classical and Jazz to create a new sound, which quickly developed the fame of representing
the ‘musical landscape of New York’ and influenced innumerable musicians since then.
References:
4 Vernon, D. A., & James, F. (2016). An Evening with George Gershwin:" Porgy and Bess:
Symphonic Picture"," Rhapsody in Blue", and" An American in Paris".

3GEORGE GERSHWIN - RHAPSODY IN BLUE
Block, G. (2017). Arranging Gershwin:“Rhapsody in Blue” and the Creation of an American
Icon. By Ryan Raul Bañagale. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014. Journal of the
Society for American Music, 11(2), 246-249.
Borle, S. (2017). The Music in George's Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blue
by S. Slade. The Deakin Review of Children's Literature, 7(1).
Orchestra, U. W., & Rohrer, T. P. (2016). In Concert Rhapsody in Blue.
Vernon, D. A., & James, F. (2016). An Evening with George Gershwin:" Porgy and Bess:
Symphonic Picture"," Rhapsody in Blue", and" An American in Paris".