The opening notes of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” are quintessentially cinematic. The lilt of a seductive clarinet begins a recognizable birdsong. A brassy, deep trombone responds. The two banter in musical conversation as the sound builds with French horns, then violins and more brass. The orchestra falls quiet for a moment, leaving an opening for Gershwin to enter solo on the grand piano.
The composition by Gershwin, arranged by Ferde Grofé, is so cinematic it has been used in the opening scenes of Woody Allen’s film “Manhattan” and Disney’s “Fantasia 2000.” It was also used in the 1945 film “Rhapsody in Blue,” a biopic about Gershwin’s life, which left a lasting impression on a young Béla Fleck. He was enchanted by the music. For decades, he dreamed of adapting the piano solo for banjo.
