b"Program NotescontinuedFollowing her return to the U.S. in the late 1950s, Perry experienced a number of major career successes, including the 1965 performance and recording of Study for Orchestra by the New York Philharmonic. Regrettably, she had health issues, and had a stroke that partially paralyzed her and hindered her writing. Impressively, she taught herself to write with her left hand to continue composing. When she passed away in 1979 at the age of 55, she left a diverse body of work behind. This included twelve symphonies, three concertos, three operas, a Stabat Mater that was highly regarded, and a variety of other shorter orchestral, chamber, and vocal compositions.Instrumentationtwo flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, two trombones, timpani, percussion, harp, piano, celeste, and strings Duration6 minutesGeorge Gershwin(18981937) An American in ParisComposed 1928An American in Paris is a symphonic tone poem composed by George Gershwin in 1928. Inspired by his time spent in Paris, the piece is a blend of jazz and classical styles and is considered one of Gershwin's most important works. The piece begins with a bluesy trumpet solo that sets the tone for the bustling energy of Parisian streets. The melody is joined by the rest of the orchestra, which gradually builds in intensity, depicting the vibrant and fast-paced atmosphere of the city. The second section of the piece is a languid and dreamy nocturne. The tempo slows down and the orchestration becomes more lush and atmospheric. This section is reflective of Gershwin's love of French impressionist music and the sweeping melodies and lush harmonies are reminiscent of Debussy and Ravel."