Buy an essay: Music History Assignment

“Rhapsody in Blue” was composed by George Gershwin in 1924. The music was written in two different styles and it was presentation of jazz band in symphonic scales through solo piano.
As it was above mentioned, “Rhapsody in Blue” combines two elements – classical music and jazz. For three times the composition was orchestrated by Ferde Grofe. First time it happened in the year 1924, then in the year 1926 and finally in the year 1942. The music was performed on the concert named “An experiment in Modern Music” that took place on February 12, the year 1924, in Aeolian Hall, New York.
The question if “Rhapsody in blue” a jazz or not is still open and there are many debates around it. It is necessary to mention that Whiteman, one of the performers, is believed to be “The King of Jazz”. This his name could be questioned to day but we need to remember that many years ago, in the year 1920, term “jazz” was used to cover a wide range of coeval pop music. So we can state that the performance of Whiteman open the “jazz side” of “Rhapsody in Blue” in the most bright way. Those primarily wind instruments that were used for the concert at Aeolian Hall predisposed the audience to listen to a jazz work. Nevertheless, critics are sharing different opinions about if “Rhapsody in Blue” fits jazz canons.
In some years after premiere of the composition William Grossman and Jack Farrell stated about “Rhapsody in Blue” following: “Clumsily syncopated “jazz” was
gradually replaced with ponderous pseudo symphonic harmonies played over dance rhythms, culminating in the concert rendition of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue; one of the most ludicrous of the popular attempts during the 1920s to merge jazz and “serious” music”. It is unquestionable fact that “Rhapsody in Blue” was not only genuine jazz music, but an interesting combination of art music and jazz components. Finally, critics accepted the opinion that “Rhapsody in Blue” identified brilliant Gershwin’s melodic gift through the original sense of harmony and rhythmic ingenuity.

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Jazz elements were raised to a new, higher level, and included an equal term in the world of symphonic music.
Nevertheless, “Rhapsody in Blue” was popular and it was performed in New York Philharmonic. Here are instruments that were used to perform variations of “Rhapsody …” in classical way: piano clarinet, alto sax, double bass, percussion, percussion, drum set. Sure that philharmonic performance gives us to feel more colors of the composition. Many different instruments are involved. “Rhapsody in Blue” sounds more classically in that way. From the middle of 20 century the version of “Rhapsody in Blue” that was introduced in the year 1942 is usually performed by classical orchestra playing. Arrangement of this version is expanded. This form of “Rhapsody in Blue” is considered a staple of the concert repertory. It was respectfully regarded by many of classical musicians.
We can state that “Rhapsody in Blue” become a kind of experiment. While critics are doing their job and looking for the dissonances and for deviations from the classical rules people are enjoying “Rhapsody in Blue” since it was performed for the first time. Both groups of people – those who like jazz and those who like classical music – can find suitable performance for themselves and enjoy the unique composition.

 
References
Jablonski, E. (1999, January/February) “Glorious George,” Cigar Aficionado.
Schiff, D. (1997). Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue. Cambridge University Press.
Schneider, W. (1999). The Gershwin Style. Oxford University Press.