Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue Opens with a Clarinet Glissando

In early 1924, bandleader Paul Whiteman sought to stage an ambitious program combining popular dance idioms with formal concert presentation. Whiteman asked the young composer George Gershwin to supply an extended work for an upcoming concert at Aeolian Hall in New York City. Gershwin initially turned down the offer because of limited time. His brother Ira then pointed out a New-York Tribune article falsely claiming that Gershwin was already at work on a jazz concerto for Whiteman. Persuaded by Whiteman soon afterward, Gershwin agreed to deliver the score on short notice.

Drafting began on January 7, 1924, as recorded on Gershwin's manuscript for two pianos. Initially working under the working title American Rhapsody, the composer adopted Rhapsody in Blue at the suggestion of his brother Ira, who was inspired by the color-themed titles of James McNeill Whistler's paintings. Gershwin later described how the underlying shape of the work coalesced during a train journey to Boston, where the train's rhythms helped him conceive the complete construction of the piece from themes already in his mind. Facing an impending deadline, Gershwin transferred the finished two-piano score to Whiteman's arranger, Ferde Grofé, who completed orchestrating the parts on February 4, eight days before the scheduled premiere.