Whose Composition Is Rhapsody in Blue?

Rhapsody in Blue is a musical composition by American composer George Gershwin, blending elements of classical music with jazz. It premiered on February 12, 1924, at the Aeolian Hall in New York City during a concert titled "An Experiment in Modern Music," organized by bandleader Paul Whiteman. Gershwin wrote most of the piece in just a few weeks after learning about the concert from a newspaper article. The iconic opening clarinet glissando — one of the most recognizable openings in all of music — was improvised by clarinetist Ross Gorman during rehearsal and kept in the final version. The composition transformed public perception of jazz as a legitimate art form and established Gershwin as a major figure in American music.