Click here to start part of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

The Rhapsody in Blue is typical of the style of George Gershwin, incorporating idioms of jazz and pop music.

The piece was commissioned by the American conductor Paul Whiteman, known for his introduction of "symphonic jazz". Gershwin completed the piano score on 7 January 1924 after 3 weeks of work.

The first performance was held at New York's Aeolian Hall on 12 February 1924, with the composer himself at the piano, accompanied by the Palais Royal Orchestra, conducted by Paul Whiteman.

The Rhapsody was later orchestrated for jazz ensemble by the American composer Ferde Grofé.

Rhapsody in Blue was one of the first pieces of “symphonic jazz”, and it has strongly influenced other Western Music composers to incorporate jazz-derived melodic and rhythmic patterns in their own music.

The Rhapsody effectively paved the way for other Gershwin pieces such as his Second Rhapsody for piano and orchestra (1931), and his renowned opera Porgy and Bess (1935).