George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. (September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are universally familiar. He wrote most of his vocal and theatrical works in collaboration with his elder brother Ira Gershwin. George Gershwin composed music for both Broadway and the Classical Concert-Hall, as well as popular songs which brought his work to an even wider public. Gershwin's compositions have been used in numerous films and on television, and many became jazz standards recorded in numerous variations. Countless singers and musicians have recorded Gershwin songs. Gershwin was named Jacob Gershowitz at birth in Brooklyn on September 26, 1898. His parents were Russian Jews. His father, Morris (Moishe) Gershowitz, changed his family name to 'Gershwin' sometime after immigrating to the United States from St. Petersburg, Russia in the early 1890s. George Gershwin was the second of four children. He first displayed interest in music at the age of ten, when he was intrigued by what he heard at his friend Maxie Rosenzweig's violin recital. The sound and the way his friend played captured him. His parents had bought a piano for lessons for his older brother Ira, but it was George who played it. Gershwin tried various piano teachers for two years, and then was introduced to Charles Hambitzer by Jack Miller, the pianist in the Beethoven Symphony Orchestra. Until Hambitzer's death in 1918, he acted as Gershwin's mentor. Hambitzer taught Gershwin conventional piano technique, introduced him to music of the European classical tradition, and encouraged him to attend orchestra concerts. At the age of fifteen, George quit school and found his first job as a performer. In 1924, George and Ira collaborated on a musical comedy Lady Be Good, which included such future standards as "Fascinating Rhythm" and "Lady Be Good". Also in 1924, Gershwin composed his first major classical work, Rhapsody in Blue for orchestra and piano.
Rhapsody in Blue is a musical composition by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band , which combines elements of Classical Music with Jazz-influenced effects. The piece received its premiere in a concert entitled An Experiment in Modern Music.
Two audio recordings exist of Gershwin performing an abridged version of the work with Whiteman's orchestra: An acoustic recording made June 10, 1924, this recording includes the original clarinetist, Ross Gorman, playing the glissando . And an electrical recording made April 21, 1927.
Both versions can be found here.