We’ve borrowed our title from the 1941 jazz standard, but what is a rhapsody? In music, Grove defines a rhapsody as “an episodic instrumental composition of indefinite form.” Rhapsodies came to be based on folk melodies, and composers in the 19th century began writing rhapsodies for chamber music and for symphonic orchestras. There are Hungarian Rhapsodies, Slavonic Rhapsodies, Blue Rhapsodies, Rhapsodies of Fire, and Bohemian Rhapsodies. Spend a week with us as Bill riffs on rhapsodies, and together we’ll explore what it is about this “indefinite form” that has attracted composers from around the world and across the centuries.
I Hear a Rhapsody
A crowd of people on looking a performance.
Playlist
Episode 1
George Fragos, Jack Baker, and Dick Gasparre: I Hear a Rhapsody (excerpt)
Frank Sinatraa
I Hear A Rhapsody
CBS 39652
0:50
Holst, Gustav: A Somerset Rhapsody
Bournemouth Sinfonietta/Norman Del Mar
Holst: Planets, Somerset Rhapsody
EMI Seraphim 73733
9:40
Dvořák, Antonin: Rhapsody in A Minor Op. 14
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra/Libor Pešek
Dvorak: Rhapsody & Slavonic Rhapsodies
Naxos 8550610
17:37
Brahms, Johannes: Four Piano Pieces, Op. 119; Rhapsodie in E-flat Major, Op. 119, No. 4
Murray Perahia, piano
Brahms: Handel Variations Op. 24; Rhapsodies Op. 79; Piano
Pieces Opp. 118 & 119
Sony 779469
5:23
Bartók, Béla: Rhapsody No. 1 for Violin and Piano
Joseph Szigeti, Béla Bartók
A Sonata Recital by Joseph Szigeti & Béla Bartók
Vanguard 1583
9:15
Liszt, Franz: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 In D Flat, S 244
Martha Argerich, piano
Liszt, Schumann: Piano Sonatas; Brahms: Rhapsodies
DG 437252
6:26
Liszt, Franz: Hungarian Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 In D Flat, S 244 (excerpt)
Martha Argerich, piano
Liszt, Schumann: Piano Sonatas; Brahms: Rhapsodies
DG 437252
2:00
Episode 2
Turina, Joaquín: Rapsodia Sinfonica
Alicia de Larrocha; London Philharmonic Orchestra/Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos
Falla, Albeniz, Turina / De Larrocha, Fruhbeck De Burgos
Decca 410289
18:04
Albéniz, Isaac: Rapsodia Española
Orch. Cristobel Halffter/Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Falla, Albeniz, Turina / De Larrocha, Fruhbeck De Burgos
Decca 410289
9:07
Liszt, Franz: Rhapsodie Espagnole, S 254
Stephen Hough, piano
Stephen Hough – Liszt: Spanish Rhapsody & Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12
Masterclass Media Foundation MMF2025
13:21
Chabrier, Emmanuel: España
Philharmonia Orchestra/Herbert Von Karajan
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Virgin Classics 61129
6:02
Jamal, Ahmad: I Hear a Rhapsody
Jamal, Ahmad
Rhapsody
Cadet 764
5:13
Episode 3
Dohnányi, Ernö: Rhapsody in f sharp, Op 11, No 3
Balint Vazsonyi
Dohnányi At The Piano
Hungaroton 12085-86
5:57
MacKenzie, Alexander: Scotch Rhapsody No. 2, Op. 24 – “I Coft A Stane O’ Haslock Woo”
Martyn Brabbins: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Mackenzie: The Cricket On The Hearth
Helios 55395
5:02
Mackenzie, Alexander: Scotch Rhapsody No. 2, Op. 24 – “She’s Faire & Fause”
Martyn Brabbins: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Mackenzie: The Cricket On The Hearth
Helios 55395
5:27
Hovhaness, Alan: Armenian Rhapsody No. 3, Op. 189
Alan Hovhaness: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Of Hovhaness Vol 4
Crystal 804
5:43
Poulenc, Francis: Rapsodie Nègre – 1. Prélude 4. Pastorale
Anne Sofie Von Otter; Bengt Forsberg, piano
La Bonne Chanson – French Chamber Songs
DG 447752
3:53
Bloch, Ernest: Schelomo (Hebraic Rhapsody For Solo Cello & Large Orchestra)
Yo-Yo Ma; Miguel Harth-Bedoya: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Traditions & Transformations
CSO Resound 901801
22:44
Episode 4
Ravel, Maurice: Rapsodie Espagnole
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado
The Berlin Gala – A Salute To Carmen
DG 457583
15:53
Paganini, Niccolò: Caprice No. 24 in A Minor: Tema con Variazioni (Quasi Presto) (Excerpt)
Michael Rabin
Niccolò Paganini: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Opus1
Classical Moments
0:25
Rachmaninov, Sergei: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43 – Introduction excerpt
Sergei Rachmaninov
Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff – The 4 Piano Concertos
RCA 61658
1:00
Rachmaninov, Sergei: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43 – Introduction
Sergei Rachmaninov
Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff – The 4 Piano Concertos
RCA 61658
22:29
Enescu, Georges: First Romanian Rhapsody
Leopold Stokowski
Rhapsodies – Liszt, Enesco, Smetana
RCA 67903
11:42
Episode 5
Debussy, Claude: Première Rhapsodie: Rêveusement Lent
Franklin Cohen, Pierre Boulez & Cleveland Orchestra
Debussy: La Mer, Nocturnes
DG 439896
8:33
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Bernard Haitink
Vaughan Williams: Norfolk Rhapsody No 1
Chandos 9775
11:36
Liszt, Franz: Hungarian Rhapsodies S. 244: No. 11 in A Minor
Gyorgy Cziffra
Liszt – The Piano Collection
Warner Classics 27180
5:10
Gershwin, George: Rhapsody In Blue
Columbia Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein
Rhapsody In Blue / An American In Paris
CBS 37242
16:31
Mercury, Freddie: Bohemian Rhapsody
Queen
Bohemian Rhapsody
Hollywood Records 64794
5:55
Gasparre, Dick, George Fragos & Jack Baker: I Hear a Rhapsody
Bill Evans & Jim Hall
Undercurrent
BlueNote 90583
4:40
