Concerto in F

Following the success of Rhapsody in Blue in 1924, Gershwin received a commission for the Concerto in F for piano and orchestra, from the New York Symphony Orchestra and its conductor, Walter Damrosch. The work was composed during the summer of 1925 while the composer enjoyed a period of solitude in Chautauqua, New York. Unlike Rhapsody in Blue, Gershwin orchestrated it himself. This represented a significant step in his musical development, as he had long aspired to be recognized as a composer of “serious” music. Premiered on December 3, 1925, at Carnegie Hall with Gershwin at the piano and subsequently performed in numerous cities, the work was warmly received by the public. However, it baffled some critics who were unsure how to categorize it: classical or jazz? Perhaps both!

Conceived as a traditional three-movement concerto, the Concerto in F begins with a movement strongly marked by a hammering Charleston rhythm. The composer described it as fast and thrilling, reflecting the youthful and enthusiastic spirit of America. Bathed in a nocturnal atmosphere, the second movement is a blues, introduced by a trio of clarinets accompanying a muted trumpet solo. Described by the composer as an “orgy of rhythms,” the third movement recaptures the thrilling character of the first, with the addition of toccata-like repeated note patterns that run throughout the entire piece, leading to an exciting conclusion.