- Gershwin wrote this tone poem in 1928. He spent three months in Europe that year, including (of course) a visit to Paris.1
- Gershwin took this European trip in the company of his brother Ira Gershwin, Ira’s wife Leonore, and Ira and George’s sister Frances.
- During his trip, Gershwin met Francis Poulenc, Sergei Prokofiev, William Walton, and Alban Berg.
- In Paris, Gershwin heard a performances of his Rhapsody in Blue and his Concerto in F.
- Gershwin started work on An American in Paris while he was in Europe. On the original score fragment, jotted down in Europe, Gershwin wrote “Very Parisienne.”2
- Taxi horns in Paris were a part of Gershwin’s inspiration for the American in Paris soundscape. In fact, he and Mabel Schirmer bought horns at car shops in Paris to take back to the USA and use in performances of the work. Taxi horn photo here.3
- An American in Paris premiered on December 13, 1928 at Carnegie Hall. Walter Damrosch conducted the New York Philharmonic in this performance.4
- Gershwin conducted An American in Paris in his debut as a conductor, which took place at an outdoor concert at New York City’s Lewisohn Stadium. The concert was attended by an audience of approximately 7000-9000.5
Sources
- Richard Crawford and Wayne J. Schneider, “Gershwin, George,” Grove Music Online (October 16, 2013), accessed March 2, 2021, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-1002252861.
- “An American in Paris,” gershwin.com, accessed March 3, 2021, http://gershwin.com/publications/an-american-in-paris-concert-work/.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Crawford and Schneider, “Gershwin, George,” Grove Music Online.
Cut IDs
40372 22622 49949 42311 44727 49591 21191 21782