This piano work was composed in 1926, shortly after the great success of "Rhapsody in Blue". An arrangement for violin and piano by Jascha Heifetz has been widely performed in recent years. With three movements, it gives an even cooler impression than "Rhapsody in Blue" with its jazzy rhythms, harmonies, and bluesy melodies. For better performance, play accents not so "strong" but "heavy" to produce a jazzy groove. Instead of playing every note earnestly, a good balance of heavy and light will make it sound more sophisticated. Harmony sections, in particular, will need to pay closer attention to this balance. In the second movement, it's essential to sense the broader phrasing which spreads horizontally. With some parts added, this piece has a larger instrumentation than the original. The unified rhythms of each section will result in a great performance.

(Yukiko Nishimura)