An American in Paris (1928)

This work was inspired by Gershwin’s trips to Paris in the 20’s where he intended to study, but after some setbacks spent time composing instead. This tone poem was intended to portray the impressions of an American strolling around Paris, absorbing the atmosphere and noise around him. Gershwin composed this piece is a freer and more modern style than before, referring to it as a ‘rhapsodic ballet’. He also brought back and used actual French taxi horns in this composition. Gershwin wrote some of the themes of the piece in French style of composers such as Claude Debussy, and utilized the American blues style to portray homesickness.

This work was better received by the critics than ‘Concerto in F’; however Gershwin himself was unhappy with the conductor’s interpretation of the piece at its premiere, considering it too sluggish. Some critics didn’t feel it belonged in a ‘classical’ concert programme, with Gershwin responding:

 ‘It's not a Beethoven Symphony, you know… It's a humorous piece, nothing solemn about it. It's not intended to draw tears. If it pleases symphony audiences as a light, jolly piece, a series of impressions musically expressed, it succeeds.’

The piece has been recorded many times during the years since, and it was used for the ballet section in the 1951 film of the same name starring Gene Kelly.