• Register
  • |
  • Sign in
skip to navigation

Classic FM

On Air Now

Anne-Marie Minhall 1pm - 5pm

Anne-Marie Minhall

Now Playing

The Wasps - Overture Ralph Vaughan Williams Download 'The Wasps - Overture' on iTunes

The Wasps - Overture artwork
  • Playlist
  • Schedule
Listen
  • Home
  • Radio
  • News
  • Discover Music
  • Composers
  • Artists
  • Lifestyle
  • Events
  • Win
  • Store
  • Charity
  • Sign in / Register
  • Follow us on:
    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube

Periods & Genres

20th Century & Beyond

Classical music inspired by the Jazz Age

Explore the best jazz-inspired classical music from the Roaring Twenties and beyond.

  1. The Great Gatsby film still

    1. Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue

    When it comes to jazzy classical music, Gershwin's your guy. His Rhapsody in Blue from 1924 is one of the most famous examples of his unique style, from the boozy opening clarinet tune to the virtuosic piano solos throughout. It encapsulates the spirit of the Jazz Age - so much so, that Baz Lurhmann uses the piece to accompany the decadent party scene in his film adaptation of The Great Gatsby.

  2. New york 1920s

    2. Copland, Piano Concerto

    "The slow blues and the snappy number". That's how Copland described the two sections of his impressive Piano Concerto, and it sums up the 1926 piece pretty perfectly. It's the ultimate example of jazz-classical fusion, both indulgent and refined in equal measure.

  3. An american in paris film poster

    3. Gershwin, An American in Paris

    Strolling through the streets of Paris in 1920s, this piece attempts to capture the sights and sounds of the city. Gershwin even brought back a few horns from Parisian taxis to add some authentic Parisian noise to the New York premiere.

  4. The Great Gatsby film still

    4. Milhaud, La Création du monde

    Not an American in Paris, but a French composer in the US. Following a trip to the States in 1922, Darius Milhaud was captivated by authentic jazz on the streets of Harlem, and it had a profound impact on his musical style. Bluesy harmonies and stomping rhythms bring this 1923 ballet to life.

  5. shostakovich smoking

    5. Shostakovich, Jazz Suites

    It could be that Shostakovich, composing in the depths of the disconnected USSR, hadn't really heard much New Orleans jazz, as he was limited by the Communists and writing for the government. This saccharine sweet music makes a great listen - if you're not expecting a relaxed swing beat or an effortless piano improvisation, that is.

  6. The Great Gatsby film still

    6. Ibert, Divertissement

    Frivolous and lighthearted, Ibert's Divertissment is chock-full of unexpected rhythms, piano chords, and trumpets bursting from the texture. Listen out for the parody quotation of Mendelssohn's well-known Bridal March - just one of the music's many surprises.

  7. GEORGE GERSHWIN

    7. Gershwin, I Got Rhythm Variations

    These variations see Gershwin's hit song, I Got Rhythm, from the musical Girl Crazy, transformed into an impressive orchestral suite in a variety of styles. Even despite the changing influences and the virtuosic piano solo, the catchy tune is still easily recognisable.

  8. The Great Gatsby

    8. Shostakovich, Tahiti Trot

    Slurred violins, brash trombones, and a twinkling xylophone - surprisingly, despite its title, Shostakovich's Tahiti Trot is far more 'jazzy' than his Jazz Suites. It could well be because he didn't write the music himself… the piece is an orchestrated version of Tea for Two, from the musical No, No, Nannette by Vincent Youmans.

  9. The Great Gatsby screen shot

    9. Stravinsky, Piano-Rag Music

    Stravinsky proved himself in the field of angular tunes and stabbing rhythms in his 1910 ballet, The Firebird. It was only a matter of time before the quirky rag-time dance got its own treatment by the composer, and the results are remarkable - it's jazzy and jarring all at once, with a menacing sense of fun.

  10. The Great Gatsby film still

    10. Weill, The Threepenny Opera

    European swing, American jazz, and opera. It's all there in Weill's 1928 opera, set, unexpectedly, in Victorian London. The opening song, The Ballad of Mackie Messer, translated into English as Mack the Knife, has now become a jazz standard in its own right.

  11. martini

    11. Copland, Four Piano Blues

    Another beautifully introspective piano tune from Copland, this time in the form of his Four Piano Blues, published in 1949. It's calming piano music at its best, coloured by the occasional sultry jazz chord or a hint of a bluesy melody - with a quirky bouncing finale to round off the 8 minute piece.

  12. leonardo di caprio gatsby

    12. Antheil, A Jazz Symphony

    George Antheil's Jazz Symphony could be the soundtrack to a comedy cartoon, thanks to its liberal use of percussion and slapstick piano tunes. But it's not all Tom and Jerry-style chaos; virtuosic piano solos provide moments of calm throughout the piece.

  13. classic car the great gatsby

    13. Bernstein, Three Dance Episodes from On the Town

    Capturing the spirit of New York City, Bernstein's On the Town tells the story of three American sailors on shore leave in the 40s. The Three Dance Episodes capture the swagger and vibrancy of the genre. Photo: Eva Rinaldi

  14. The Great Gatsby film still

    14. Stravinsky, Ebony Concerto

    Composed in 1945, Stravinsky described this piece as "a jazz concerto with a blues slow movement". It was premiered by famous American jazz clarinetist Woody Herman, who called it a "very delicate and a very sad piece".

  15. The Great Gatsby Film Still

    15. Ravel, Piano Concerto in G

    The story's simple. An American composer tours Paris, and is so taken with the culture and music that he writes a piece. That's how the Piano Concerto in G was born, at least - Ravel encountered the fun and fashionable French jazz while he was travelling, and created this brilliantly punchy work in three movements.

More Periods and Genres

See more More Periods and Genres

Baroque

Baroque

Classical

Classical

Romantic

Romantic

Film & TV

Film & TV

Opera

Opera

Video Games

Video Games

Back to top

Today's Hot Searches

  • brahms
  • vivaldi
  • bach
  • tchaikovsky
  • chopin
  • andrea bocelli
  • beethoven
  • mozart
  • classical music tear jerkers
  • best classical music
  • Classic FM Live
  • classic fm christmas station
  • classic fm requests
  • john suchet
  • classic fm 25th birthday
  • piano world record
  • eric whitacre's hair
  • best pianists
  • harry potter music
  • classic fm app
  • saturday night at the movies
  • smooth classics
  • star wars soundtrack
  • best sopranos
  • best cellists
  • composer or pasta
  • music for studying
  • best violinists
  • sad music
  • composer birthdays
  • relaxing music

Useful Links

  • Contact Us
  • Help
  • How To Listen
  • About Classic FM
  • Company Details
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions

Latest From Twitter

    Classic FM ‐ @classicfm

  • What music can we play you this afternoon? Tweet @AMinhall and Classic FM Requests now! pic.twitter.com/rqGC3n3OHW

Follow Us

Follow Classic FM on Twitter
Follow Classic FM on Facebook
Follow Classic FM on Instagram
Follow Classic FM on Youtube
© Global 2018
30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA

We use cookies on our site. By continuing to browse you are agreeing to our use of these cookies.

View more info Close