Some of the most "informal" compositions are called rhapsodies, in that they don't follow a specific formal procedure. There is no rule for the sequence of events; anything can happen in a rhapsody. In Mozart's time, they were called "fantasies," and by the time we get to George Gershwin, a "fantasy" became "Rhapsody in Blue"...a modern jazz piano concerto in one movement! In this episode we will listen to some famous examples of rhapsodies, and, like previous episodes, learn how different time periods and different composers can change the character of a musical genre.
