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Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
George Gershwin only has a few weeks to compose a concerto. His piece is supposed to exemplify American music and premiere at a concert entitled "An Experiment in Modern Music." Homesick for New York while rehearsing for a musical in Boston, he soon realizes that American music is much like its people, a great melting pot of sounds, rhythms, and harmonies. JoAnn Kitchel's illustrations capture the 1920s in all their art deco majesty.
Includes a CD of "Rhapsody in Blue" performed by George Gershwin (1925 piano roll) and the Columbia Jazz Band, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.
Includes a CD of "Rhapsody in Blue" performed by George Gershwin (1925 piano roll) and the Columbia Jazz Band, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 7, 2015
Cute book, well-told interesting story with great illustrations. (I know it's a kids book but if I set my goal at 75 you gotta cut me some slack;)
June 17, 2017
Five weeks. Five weeks of genius created the explosion of sound and movement in one of the most recognizable jazz standards in American history. Celenza’s book arrived as part of my son’s young readers book club, and it was an absolute pleasure to read. Fun, quaint illustrations accompany the approachable and humorous text that tells the story of Gershwin’s explosion of creativity that resulted from being roped into writing a last minute symphony. The resulting Rhapsody in Blue is a startlingly beautiful twenty-minute piece whose genesis and genius is revealed in this children’s book. My son was engaged and we both loved its storytelling and execution. The fact that it came with a recording of the piece solidified our enjoyment. A great read for kids.
August 24, 2016
Misses on every aspect.
June 14, 2020
This book is another childhood favorite! I loved looking at the charming illustrations when I was younger, as well as reading the story that goes with them. It was always so interesting for me to hear Rhapsody in Blue afterwards and it’s now one of my favorites compositions, I suspect due to this book. The writing style is very good, as it is easy so understand, flows well, and is full of information. It makes history fun and easy to learn, which I am all for. Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue is entertaining for children and adults alike, and is a perfect introduction to Gershwin’s music and the music of that time period.
October 25, 2025
Story of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue told with humor and narrative! I love that you get to learn the whole process. Also the addition of the CD recording with the book of the actual piece is wonderful.
September 27, 2017
An interesting, surprising story about the creation of an American classic. The illustrations evoked 1920's NYC. Plus it comes with a CD recording of the piece!
July 14, 2020
Comes with a CD recording of Rhapsody in Blue :)
May 17, 2021
🥺🥺🥺✨Es una novela gráfica demasiado bonita que aún por sus pocas palabras te transmite muchisimo
October 21, 2023
I loved studying Gershwin! His music is so good.
September 29, 2012
One day in early 1924 George Gershwin's brother Ira was reading the New York Daily when he brought to George's attention that the newspaper said he would be performing a new concerto in a few weeks. The problem was, this was news to George! He had no idea that the public expected him to perform a brand new piano concerto, especially considering he hadn't even started writing one, let alone had one ready to perform in a few weeks. But thanks to the encouragement of his brother and friends, he took on the challenge of creating a piece that would soon become the epitome of American music in only a few weeks.
I am somewhat of a classical music snob. I played classical piano for 13 years and have always adored composers like Chopin (my favorite), Beethoven, Rachmainoff, Brahms, etc. But when I was a pre-teen and adolescent, my musical sophistication just wasn't developed enough to truly appreciate the genius of George Gershwin: the constant dissonance, the difficulty in picking out a lilting melody, the jazzy, syncopated notes. I just didn't get it. It wasn't until I was in my late twenties and I had heard this piece countless times that I finally began to appreciate its genius, and then started to consider it all-out brilliant. It really is the epitome of America: a melting pot of many different styles of music: jazz, classical, ragtime, blues...
Because I grew up loving classical music, that is definitely what drew me to this book. I LOVED learning how George Gershwin gave birth to this iconic piece of music. I think what is most evocative about this book is just knowing that had it not been for a presumptuous orchestra leader, Paul Whiteman, who initially made the announcement to the New York Daily, this piece may never have come to fruition, and how sad that would have been for American music.
This book comes with an accompanying CD that includes one track. I'll let you make an educated guess as to what track that is.
I am somewhat of a classical music snob. I played classical piano for 13 years and have always adored composers like Chopin (my favorite), Beethoven, Rachmainoff, Brahms, etc. But when I was a pre-teen and adolescent, my musical sophistication just wasn't developed enough to truly appreciate the genius of George Gershwin: the constant dissonance, the difficulty in picking out a lilting melody, the jazzy, syncopated notes. I just didn't get it. It wasn't until I was in my late twenties and I had heard this piece countless times that I finally began to appreciate its genius, and then started to consider it all-out brilliant. It really is the epitome of America: a melting pot of many different styles of music: jazz, classical, ragtime, blues...
Because I grew up loving classical music, that is definitely what drew me to this book. I LOVED learning how George Gershwin gave birth to this iconic piece of music. I think what is most evocative about this book is just knowing that had it not been for a presumptuous orchestra leader, Paul Whiteman, who initially made the announcement to the New York Daily, this piece may never have come to fruition, and how sad that would have been for American music.
This book comes with an accompanying CD that includes one track. I'll let you make an educated guess as to what track that is.
June 22, 2016
Fun. Twenty-one watercolors illustrate this book, which tells kids of all ages how “Rhapsody in Blue” came to be.
But more than just story and paintings, the book includes a CD of Gershwin playing the concerto in 1925. Although the recording is almost a hundred years old, this was remastered into a very clean and bright thirteen-minute experience. Gershwin composed the work in a month at twenty-six years old. Strap on your headphones and put this work in your head.
Gershwin weekend here. The weekend began with a viewing of the 1945 film, “Rhapsody in Blue,” a terrific George Gershwin biopic, which also featured Paul Whiteman and Oscar Levant.
The climax came when the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra closed the night’s program with Jeffrey Kahane conducting and playing a passionate rendition of the concerto. The audience brought him back for three curtain calls. For the piece, the MSO broke down from its full size to a twenty-three member ensemble, the same theater-orchestra configuration that Paul Whiteman used when the work debuted in 1924. My only regret: skipping the chance to see and hear it again on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon.
the film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038026/
But more than just story and paintings, the book includes a CD of Gershwin playing the concerto in 1925. Although the recording is almost a hundred years old, this was remastered into a very clean and bright thirteen-minute experience. Gershwin composed the work in a month at twenty-six years old. Strap on your headphones and put this work in your head.
Gershwin weekend here. The weekend began with a viewing of the 1945 film, “Rhapsody in Blue,” a terrific George Gershwin biopic, which also featured Paul Whiteman and Oscar Levant.
The climax came when the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra closed the night’s program with Jeffrey Kahane conducting and playing a passionate rendition of the concerto. The audience brought him back for three curtain calls. For the piece, the MSO broke down from its full size to a twenty-three member ensemble, the same theater-orchestra configuration that Paul Whiteman used when the work debuted in 1924. My only regret: skipping the chance to see and hear it again on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon.
the film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038026/
November 16, 2015
As a lover of music and just one class shy of having received a minor in music in my undergrad, I knew I had to read this book once I discovered it sitting on the shelf at my local library. To make it even more authentic, I even pulled up Rhapsody in Blue in my iTunes to listen to while I read about its creation. I'm not sure that someone who is unfamiliar with this piece would appreciate it as much, but I LOVED this book and enjoyed reading about how Rhapsody in Blue came to be. The book comes with a CD of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, which I would absolutely play if I were to read this book aloud to an elementary school class. As I read, "All at once, the clarinet let out a wail that made the fleeing listeners stop dead in their track," I got goosebumps imagining this moment. I feel as though I have a deeper appreciation for this piece now that I know more of its history.
September 10, 2012
This 2006 title is a good example of a non-fiction picture book that stretches the genre out a little bit. A good reason not to write-off this approach is that this one comes with a nice story about the creation of a piece of highly-recognizable music written by an American musician that is all true. . .a wonderful account that comes with the CD to listen to the piece of music being celebrated. The text is peppered with chronological events, locations, dialogue and the creative process. Give this one a look.
Another title salvaged from the West Clark Community Schools warehouse.
Another title salvaged from the West Clark Community Schools warehouse.
January 22, 2008
This was an interesting peak into the history of one of the 1920's most famous pieces of music. Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (which I confess I first heard in conjunction with the United Airline's commercials...hey, child of the 80s what can I say!) is the featured piece and this book even includes a recording. While this is a picture book best suited for older readers I found it quite interesting. The illustrations are well suited to the text and really evoke the spirit of the time.
August 16, 2010
This gets the coveted 5 stars from me and my son, Joseph. It is a joy to listen to the concerto playing in the background as we read the story of it's conception. The illustrations are really well done as my nearly 3 year old understands the emotion of the text before he hears it by seeing the pictures.
Imagine what could have happened with American music if George Gershwin had lived beyond his 39 years?
Imagine what could have happened with American music if George Gershwin had lived beyond his 39 years?
June 5, 2010
This book will whet your appetite for an experiment in modern music! If only my words could capture the excitement this story builds for the music! It's a bit long for my 5 year old, but well worth it. Again, so thankful to have stumbled on these books with beautiful illustrations and information about composers and music we may have missed!
November 2, 2009
Entertaining account of how George Gershwin wrote his classic work.
September 21, 2010
Amazing that he wrote it in only a few weeks! Could never get Lola to read it with me, but I enjoyed it.
October 26, 2011
Terrific lead in for a biography project or unit.
July 26, 2013
found this gem at our local library which brings the story of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue to little readers. My 5 year old loved the story, the illustrations and listening to the included cd.
December 28, 2013
ages 9-12
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews