Ever rode on an United Airlines flight and watched the opening safety video? Remember the hit movie from earlier this year The Great Gatsby? What the two have in common is a clip of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, which can be heard in the grandiose scene where the audience meets Gatsby for the first time, starting at 0:32.
Leonardo DiCaprio's introduction in The Great Gatsby
The Rhapsody in Blue is a contemporary classical piece written in 1924 for piano and jazz band, later orchestrated for a full symphony. It was immensely popular right after it premiered in New York City, and solidified George Gershwin's reputation as a serious composer. It is a piano concerto (piano solo accompanied by full orchestra) with one major difference in that a Rhapsody is one continuous movement, whereas piano concertos typically have three separate movements. This piece has been interpreted as the 'musical portrait of NYC', and featured in several other movies such as Disney's Fantasia 2000 as well as performed at the 1984 Olympics opening ceremony in Los Angeles and the 50th Grammy awards.
Here it is now in it's full glory. Enjoy!
Rhapsody in Blue - composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Lang Lang
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