Rhapsody in Blue

0 Full Score A3 - 1 Full Score - 1 Piano - 1 Piccolo - 8 Flute I + II - 2 Oboe - 2 Bassoon - 5 Clarinet I - 5 Clarinet II - 5 Clarinet III - 1 Alto Clarinet Eb - 1 Bass Clarinet - 4 Alto Saxophone I + II - 2 Tenor Saxophone - 1 Baritone Saxophone - 2 Trumpet I - 2 Trumpet II - 2 Trumpet III - 2 Horn I + II Eb - 2 Horn I + II F - 2 Horn III Eb - 2 Horn III F - 2 Trombone I C - 1 Trombone I Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone I Bb (BC) - 2 Trombone II C - 1 Trombone II Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone II Bb (BC) - 2 Trombone III C - 1 Trombone III Bb (TC) - 1 Trombone III Bb (BC) - 2 Euphonium C - 2 Euphonium Bb (BC) - 2 Euphonium Bb (TC) - 2 Bas Bb (TC) - 2 Bas Bb (BC) - 2 Bas Eb (TC) - 2 Bas Eb (BC) - 4 Tuba C - 1 Stringbass - 2 Percussion I - 2 Percussion II - 1 Mallets - 1 Timpani

George Gershwin used elements of classical music and jazz in this well known and loved work. The premiere of this piece was in Aeolian Hall in New York on February 12, 1924. Paul Whiteman led his big band, which was augmented with a string section, with the composer himself playing the piano solo. Gershwin improvised quite a lot during the concert as much of the music was yet to be written down on paper. The famous clarinet glissando in the opening was actually a joke from the clarinetist in the band, which Gershwin later wrote into the score.