An American in Paris
- Music written by
- George Gershwin
- Comments
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A symphonic poem influenced by early Jazz written in 1928 and one of Gershwin's best known works. Consisting of five parts, Gershwin intended to reflect the moods he had felt during his stays in Paris.
"An American in Paris" was commissioned by conductor Walter Damrosch and is composed for a symphonic orchestra plus saxophone and automobile horns. The work premiered on December 13, 1928, at the Carnegie Hall, with Damrosch conducting the New York Philharmonic.
Loosely based on a melody named "Very Parisienne" Gershwin had written in 1926, "An American in Paris" was revised by Gershwins publisher Frank Campbell-Watson (1898–1980), leading to the version commonly performed. Campbell-Watson's arrangements are the reason why the work is not public domain, yet, although Gershwin passed away in 1937.
The 'rhapsodic ballet' (Gershwin) was the inspiration for the movie of the same name (1951).
The original version, missing Campbell-Watson's changes and including the 120 bars Damrosch had skipped, was premiered on Dec. 14th, 2015 by Bremer Philharmoniker. - Licensing
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