Rhapsody in Blue

As I’ve shared previously, I like all kinds of music.  I’m particularly drawn to classic tunes in a variety of genres.  I was reminded of this recently when I learned that the 100th anniversary of the iconic composition Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin occurred earlier this year.

Ever since conductor Paul Whiteman commissioned George Gershwin to compose a “jazz concerto” for an event at Aeolian Hall in Manhattan on February 12, 1924, the music world has been mesmerized by one of the more familiar melodies of all time.  In fact, Rhapsody in Blue may be the most often performed piece by symphony orchestras…and not just in concert halls.

In fact, after Gershwin’s death, the rights to Rhapsody in Blue were acquired by United Airlines who have made it their signature melody in commercials and have piped it into their cabins as background music for years.  

In 1984 the U.S. Olympic Committee commissioned 84 pianists to perform excerpts of the piece in the opening ceremonies of the Los Angeles games during the height of the cold war.  The piece also debuted in the Disney Classic, Fantasia 2000 which was released in 1999.

The story behind the song was brought to my attention recently while watching CBS Sunday Morning when correspondent David Pogue narrated a segment that provided considerable background into the history and evolution of this classic concerto over the years.

When you have 8 minutes to spare, I think you’ll enjoy listening to this message and the music.

https://www.cbs.com/shows/video/2iPurIjnkqdP1dHcuUm0OCR5PkPChaBU/