The Piano Concerto in F

Gershwin introduced Jazz to the Concert Hall in 1924 with "Rhapsody in Blue," which inspired conductor Walter Damrosch to commission a serious concerto from the young composer. Lacking formal training in music, Gershwin used the project to develop his skills, devouring books on music theory, concerto form and orchestration in the process. Gershwin initially called his ambitious new work the New York Concerto, but settled on the more conservative title Piano Concerto in F by the time it received its Carnegie Hall premiere in 1925 with the New York Symphony Orchestra (fore-runner to the modern Philharmonic).