This edition of tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite, arranged in 1960 by billy strayhorn and duke ellington, was assembled from the original manuscripts held in the strayhorn repository and the ellington collection of the smithsonian. Duke ellington, piano johnny hodges, saxophone harry carney, saxophone paul gonzalves, saxophone russell procope, saxophone. Piano in the background 1960 the nutcracker suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded for the columbia label in 1960 featuring jazz interpretations of the nutcracker by tchaikovsky, arranged by ellington and billy strayhorn. Coarranged by billy strayhorn, this is a remarkable work by the ellington orchestra. This album featured tasty jazz versions of music by tchaikovsky and grieg, which i believe even classics lovers might enjoy as well, the only drawback lies in a few original duke like numbers tacked on at the and which failed to hit the mark, and arent really worth listening to.
Duke ellington, billy strayhorn and the adventures of peer. By 1960, the potential appeal of updating tchaikovskys score was obvious enough to a savvy musician like duke ellington. Duke ellingtons harlem nutcracker harmonie ensemblenew. Edward kennedy duke ellington april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death over a career spanning more than six decades born in washington, d. In the traditional nutcracker, the march is the second movement, but ellington and strayhorn composed a piece titled toot toot tootie toot dance of the reed pipes to follow overture. In the liner notes to the new harmonia mundi release the nutcracker suites, conductor steven richman closes his introduction with a great quote from duke ellington. Scott belck, director jazz lab band dominic marino, director featuring ccm musical theater dance diane lala, choreographer sunday, november 24, 20 corbett auditorium 2. Duke ellingtons harlem nutcracker harmonie ensemblenew york by wasmax2000. Ccm has become an allsteinway school through the kindness of its donors. The nutcracker suite duke ellington credits allmusic. The nutcracker suite 1960 piano in the background 1960 swinging suites by edward e. Duke ellington and his orchestra, tchaikovsky, grieg duke ellington and his orchestra, tchaikovsky, grieg the nutcracker suite peer gynt suite nos. The other suites are fine, but duke s nutcracker highlights his creativity as an arranger. David berger and the sultans of swing, duke ellington, billy.
I think that improvisation in classical music elevates it to another height. In 1999, this suite was supplemented with additional arrangements from the score by david berger for the harlem nutcracker, a production of the ballet by choreographer donald byrd. Jan 14, 2020 an originator of bigband jazz, duke ellington was an american composer, pianist and bandleader who composed thousands of scores over his 50year career. This album paired two multimovement compositions created collaboratively by duke ellington and billy strayhorn. Duke ellington and billy strayhorns nutcracker suite arrangements offer an ideal vehicle for shelbys jazz orchestra. Nutcracker suites harmonie ensemble new york, steven richman on allmusic 20 edward kennedy duke ellington devoted. Due to its popularity, the nutcracker has been used for many many different things and in many many different ways. The classical masterpiece is a holiday favorite and tinkering with something so well known is a bit risky. Award winning new york based conductor steven richman has done a great job with the winning combination of tchaikovsk. This authentic edition of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite, as arranged in 1960 by billy strayhorn and duke ellington, was assembled from the original manuscripts held in the strayhorn repository and the ellington collection of the smithsonian institutions national museum of american history.
The duke was speaking in general terms, but his comment is highly appropriate for this disc as well. A duke ellington latin jazz classic in this afrocuban setting, this song is an energetic selection that will make your choir and audience want to move their feet. He met duke ellington when he was 23 years old and began working with him soon after. One of the originators of bigband jazz, ellington led his band for more than half a century, composed thousands of scores, and created one of the most distinctive ensemble sounds in all of western music.
For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were cross. Its a work that is reimagined by the composing genius. Listen free to duke ellington the nutcracker suite overture, toot toot tootie toot dance of the reedpipes and more. Conductor david berger leads a fullscale ballet based on themes of tchaikovskys classic holiday piece the nutcracker, but this version is quite different from the original. Ellington strayhorntchaikovsky nutcracker suite ellington grieg. In 1960 duke ellington and his orchestra recorded an album for the columbia label titled swinging suites by edward e. Peer gynt suites nos 1 and 2 and ellington strayhorn. Dec 09, 2016 the nutcracker suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded for the columbia label in 1960 featuring jazz interpretations of the nutcracker by.
Duke ellingtons nutcracker and holiday concert jazz ensemble dr. Moreover, ellington had always been interested in longform composition, exploring the fusion of classical techniques with jazz style in works like his creole rhapsody 1931 and his concerto for trumpeter cootie williams. Edward kennedy duke ellington april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death over a career spanning more than six decades. In 1960 duke ellington recorded a jazz version of the nutcracker suite.
Washingtonlee jazz big band duke ellingtons nutcracker suite. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. In 1960, duke ellington and billy strayhorn arranged their own adaptation of the nutcracker suite for the duke ellington orchestra this version features the overture, toot toot tootsie toot dance of the reedflutes, peanut brittle bri gade march, sugar rum cherry dance of the sugar plum fairy, the entracte. Dec 24, 20 when ellington signs a record contract in 1960, he teams up with fellow musician billy strayhorn, and the two composers create a new spin on tchaikovskys nutcracker suite.
It is one of my most favorite programs by duke ellington. Duke ellington and his orchestra, 1960, stereo, an album by duke ellington on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Reaching across the decades, strayhorn and ellington have added a very grownup dimension to a childfriendly favorite. Duke ellington the nutcracker suite 1960 written by bluesever tuesday, 24 december 20 16. When ellington signs a record contract in 1960, he teams up with fellow musician billy strayhorn, and the two composers create a new spin on tchaikovskys nutcracker suite. Duke ellington isnt really my thing, but i can appreciate it for what it is.
There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind. The nutcracker suite sheet music by ellingtonstrayhorn. Like mozarts magic flute, duke ellingtons adaptation of the nutcracker proves that fairy tales are not just for kids. His band and guest singers austin and washington breathe new life into the singular cultural fusion of tchaikovsky with the orchestral language of ellington.
The only two tracks from the nutcracker actually performed by duke ellington and his band available on spotify are substituted here. Duke ellington, american pianist who was the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of his time. Find album credit information for the nutcracker suite duke ellington on allmusic. Through education outreach in the community and regular performance in an environment that is best suited for listening, the mission of the rmjc is to create a greater awareness and appreciation for jazz music and. Oct 30, 2019 the rocky mountain jazz collective is an organization started in 2019 by highly respected members of the jazz community in montana. Back in 1969, five years before vince guaraldi jazzed up christmas music for a charlie brown christmas, duke ellington and billy strayhorn conceived of and superbly executed this. Duke ellington and his orchestra the nutcracker suite.
Yet when the duke and his writing partner billy strayhorn first announced plans to take the classical ballet and perform a jazz version, even members of duke s orchestra expressed. They worked together as cocomposers for almost 30 years, and billy. Composed by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky arranged by billy strayhorn and duke ellington all instruments have been. Find album credit information for the nutcracker suite duke ellington on allmusic allmusic new releases. It features ellington in a piano trio setting, emphasising his own keyboard prowess rather than the big band arrangements more typical of. My favorite songs on here are duke s version of the nutcracker suite. This edition of tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite, arranged in 1960 by billy strayhorn and duke ellington, was assembled from the original manuscripts held in the strayhorn repository and the ellington collection of the smithsonian institutions national museum of american history. Duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn. Rohe distinguished piano fund michelle rohe is one of the. Ellington 18991974 modern period edward kennedy ellington was born in washington, d. His parents were both talented musicians, and duke began taking piano lessons when he was 7 years old.
Duke ellington and his orchestra ellingtonstrayhorn. Bill easleys clarinet is the star of this one, although he gets plenty of help from the other horns along the way. Heres a clever, wellexecuted album with a clever, wellexecuted plan. Nutcracker and peer gynt suites arranged by duke ellington. In 1960, duke ellington and billy strayhorn composed jazz interpretations of pieces from tchaikovskys score, recorded and released on lp as the nutcracker suite. In 1960, duke ellington and billy strayhorn arranged their own adaptation of pyotr ilyich tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite for the duke ellington orchestra.
Discover littleknown secrets and interesting discorse on its history, creation, and performance. In duke ellington and billy strayhorns reworking of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite from 1960, the jazz composers didnt lean on tchaikovsky for anything beyond the strength of a melody. Reviving the art of swinging the classics, steven richman and the harmonie ensemblenew york present two different versions of the beloved nutcracker suite, sidebyside on the same album for the first time. In 1960, duke ellington and billy strayhorn composed jazz interpretations of pieces from tchaikovskys score. Duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky the nutcracker suite. Piano duke ellington saxophone harry carney, jimmy hamilton, johnny hodges, paul gonsalves, russell procope trombone booty wood, britt woodman, juan tizol, lawrence brown. The rhythm section also included sam woodyard, back with the band after a. The nutcracker suite duke ellington album wikipedia.
Wikizero the nutcracker suite duke ellington album. Nutcracker suite is a work that most of us know from the christmas holiday, a ballet that as a schoolchild one had to see. Duke ellington and his orchestra the nutcracker suite 1960. Piano in the foreground is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded and released on the columbia label in 1961. Concert suite from the nutcracker, for solo piano the. Duke ellington was the true master of the big band era, although a lot of benny goodman followers might disagree. Suite thursday when you count it make them 4 suites though. The nutcracker suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded for the columbia label in 1960 featuring jazz interpret. I own a lot of duke ellington cds and albums, and this is one of my favorites. Many know him as duke ellington s longtime collaborator, composer and arranger, who was no. Dec 15 duke ellingtons nutcracker orange county, ca patch. Overture heres the 1st movement of duke ellington s nutcracker suite.
In the original lemmings dance of the reed flutes and miniature overture is used in several levels. Featuring jazz interpretations of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, the album has come to be recognized as one of duke ellington s most important albums of the 1960s. There is also a great book about duke s nutcracker suite by anna harwell celenza. Ellington s band is not keen on tackling it, but he is not dissuaded. It juxtaposes two versions of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite on the same disc.
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