An American in Paris

An American in Paris is a jazz-influenced symphonic poem (or tone poem) for orchestra by American composer George Gershwin first performed in 1928. It was inspired by the time that Gershwin had spent in Paris and evokes the sights and energy of the French capital during the Années folles.

This article is about the 1928 George Gershwin composition. For the 1951 film, see An American in Paris (film). For the 2014 musical play, see An American in Paris (musical). For other uses, see An American in Paris (disambiguation).

An American in Paris
by George Gershwin
First recording
GenreOrchestral jazz
FormRhapsody
ComposedSpring 1928
Premiere
DateDecember 13, 1928
LocationCarnegie Hall, New York City
ConductorWalter Damrosch
PerformersNew York Philharmonic

Gershwin scored the piece for the standard instruments of the symphony orchestra plus celesta, saxophones, and automobile horns. He brought back four Parisian taxi horns for the New York premiere of the composition, which took place on December 13, 1928, in Carnegie Hall, with Walter Damrosch conducting the New York Philharmonic. It was Damrosch who had commissioned Gershwin to write his Concerto in F following the earlier success of Rhapsody in Blue (1924). He completed the orchestration on November 18, less than four weeks before the work's premiere. He collaborated on the original program notes with critic and composer Deems Taylor.

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