Gershwin Plays Rhapsody in Blue (1924)

The first recording of this work, mastered in 2020.

George Gershwin
Rhapsody in Blue

George Gershwin, pianist
Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman Orchestra

Recorded on June 10, 1924
in New York City

Gershwin recorded the "Rhapsody in Blue" twice, and the earlier recording is by far the best. This is the original group from that historic moment in Aeolian Hall. Although from the era of acoustic recordings, it was made at it's zenith and the sound is quite rich in detail.

JUST FOR FUN

This recording, if listened to closely, is one of the most informative acoustic recordings to survive. By 1924 studio mixing as we know it was already highly developed. The iconic image of a musician playing into a bullhorn misleads about the technology after 1904; it wasn't just one bullhorn, it was an increasingly sophisticated network of proprietary acoustically shaped precision tubes, valves, and apertures controlled, by the 1920s, by what we would now define as semi-automation. Instead of faders, they used mechanical valves to control air pressure.

It begs the coolest "What if" question in early audio; what if the microphone had arrived ten years later? The HUGE advantage acoustic recording had was the absence of electrical current and all the baggage it brought with it. The sound was the most direct form of recording ever developed. By 1935, the method of translating acoustic energy into optical information without processing would have been (based upon history), possible. This could have easily addressed one of greatest weaknesses of acoustic sound: sensitivity. The diaphragm of any acoustic system was every bit as sensitive as that of a microphone: in fact most early microphones were using the same diaphragms as acoustics.

What does that mean? Possibly that acoustic recording might have been at the same level of accuracy as audio in the 1990s by as early as 1939. But that is all in an alternate reality of sorts, because any engineer in 1925 would make the decisions that they did. The possibilities of electrical were simply too great to resist. Nevertheless, the concept of non-electrical, high fidelity sound is an intriguing one.

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[josephmagil]

Wonderful! I'd never realized before that the opening clarinet and trumpet solos were meant to sound like laughter! I know of no other version like this!

[Augustus_Imperator]

There is something so subtle yet incredibly exhilarating in being able to listen a great piece such as Rhapsody in blue being played by its own author. Imagine being able to listen Mozart or Chopin to play.

[channelsixtysix]

This recording is now 97 years old and it sounds beautiful.

[dackelmommy]

THIS is the recording all Conductors should carefully listen to, as Gershwin was helping Whiteman understand what he wanted, I'm sure.

[miguelosvaldofloresdomingu]

Recorded 100 years ago today! To me, one of the greatest recording of all times.

[robertrodes]

It's hard to believe how different this sounds from more modern recordings. There's a "cheekiness" about it that seems pretty much lost to performances these days.

[HowardFluhr-wuhm]

I'm absolutely shocked at how wonderful this is.... Thank you.

[susanegittins]

THE best composition I've ever heard in my life. No comparison

[EllenpearlJackson-hmyl]

To me this is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard in my life my mom and dad taught me to appreciate beautiful rest in peace George Gershwin beautiful soul now playing with the angels in heaven thank you

[franceslothian]

Only recording I know that comes even close to the jazziness of this is Previn in 1961

[johnmarkconnolly]

What an incredible recording! Thanks for preserving it for all of us.

[thomasvendetti]

Delightful! Thank you for presenting to us the sound of the 20’s in excellent sound!

[ellenpearljackson]

Beautiful memories of good music Is Paul Whiteman the conductor Beautiful Thank you for the memories George Rest in peace with the angels of God

[zemabar]

It is played the 1920s fashion, the cheerful fashion of the composer. Modernly the rhapsody gained drama and pomposity, but it's no longer quite Gershwin.

[ChristChickAutistic]

Nobody makes the clarinet and trumpet laugh, and as much as I love Bernstein, this is my favorite version. I mean, GEORGE is on keys! Paul Whiteman Orchestra backing him!

[M.Sforza]

It’s a conversation in notes rather than words.

[jerrythemouse]

At United, we're connecting people. Uniting the world and doing it safely. From all of us, thank you, and enjoy your flight!

[lynhampshire]

Very different from the version with Leonard Bernstein that I have on disc, but this must be how George Gershwin wanted it.

[gicono]

Despite the 78 record quality imperfections, Gershwin and orchestra paint a musical film with a cast of characters you can picture in your imagination. Shoe shine guys laughing, people rushing to work, a family missing their train. All of the newer versions are overly polished caricatures of the original - much like comparing the original Jim Hensen & Frank Oz Muppets to the souless Disney commercialized version.

[TighelanderII]

Gershwin is saying, "Thanks for everything Europe, but we'll take it from here."