The nutcracker suite duke ellington credits allmusic. 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. Listen to the duke ellington version of the russian dance entitled the volga vouty. 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. He arranged a version of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite. Duke ellington, american pianist who was the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of his time. It juxtaposes two versions of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite on the same disc. David berger and the sultans of swing, duke ellington. Nutcracker suite is a work that most of us know from the christmas holiday, a ballet that as a schoolchild one had to see. Because the suite is a favorite form for ellington composition, the. Find similar albums to the nutcracker suite duke ellington on allmusic. Tchaikovsky dance of the sugarplum fairy, nutcracker suite. 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 dukelike numbers tacked on at the and which failed to hit the mark, and arent really worth listening to.
Tchaikovsky russian dance, nutcracker suite music at home. Anna harwell celenza duke ellingtons nutcracker suite. In duke ellingtons orchestra, arthur whetsol, bubber miley, freddie jenkins, and cootie williams played the trumpet. Featuring jazz interpretations of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, the album has come to be recognized as one of duke ellingtons most important albums of the 1960s. The work consists of an overture with several dance movements. Tchaikovsky chinese dance, nutcracker suite music at home.
The classical masterpiece is a holiday favorite and tinkering with something so well known is a bit risky. Duke ellingtons dance of the floreadores waltz of the flowers performed by the alexandria symphony. Duke ellington was a jazz composer, pianist and bandleader in the early part of the 20th century. The work consists of an overture with several dance movements following. For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were crosschecked carefully with the original duke ellington. The bso will delight the entire family with the peanut brittle brigade and dance of the floreadors and a few old favorites too. Celenza, a musicologist, loosely reimagines the recording sessions. Featuring jazz interpretations of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, the album has come to be recognised as one of duke ellingtons most important albums of the 1960s. How to teach a lesson introduction the nutcracker suite is an adaptation of tchaikovskys larger ballet based on a libretto by e. 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 dukes orchestra expressed. Toot toot tootie toot dance of the mirlitons, or reedpipes. 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. The piano is a keyboard instrument and in the percussion family. Toot toot tootie toot dance of the mirlitons, or reedpipes peanut brittle brigade march sugar rum cherry dance of the sugarplum fairy entracte.
Featuring brand new choreography from dcbased dance troupe step afrika. In 1960, duke ellington and billy strayhorn reinvented tchaikovskys holiday ballet classic as a jazzy, brassy melting pot of musical styles past and present. Overture heres the 1st movement of duke ellingtons nutcracker suite. One of duke ellingtons most delightful adaptations of another composers material is his reworking of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite into jazz. 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. He reinterpreted tchaikovskys nutcracker suite as a jazz composer. Duke ellington and billy strayhorn played the piano in duke ellingtons orchestra. The marquee at the apollo advertises duke ellingtons nutcracker suite december 11, 2014 in new york. 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. Duke ellington was a jazz composer, pianist and bandleader. Duke ellington, billy strayhorn and the adventures of peer. The nutcracker suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke. Gunther schuller mused rather wistfully about the benefits of classical musicians looking hard at an ellington score. Duke ellington and his orchestra, ellington, strayhorn.
The nutcracker suite album overture duke ellington. It features a number of dance pieces that have wonderful melodies and have been etched into all our memories by disneys fantasia. Find album credit information for the nutcracker suite duke ellington on allmusic. Ellington gave new titles to the movements and rearranged their order, justified, i believe, by the new character of the music. Tchaikovsky waltz of the flowers, nutcracker suite. The nutcracker suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded for the columbia label in 1960.
Duke ellingtons nutcracker baltimore symphony orchestra. Duke ellington and his orchestra nutcracker suite 1979. The nutcracker suite duke ellington similar allmusic. Free download duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky the nutcracker suite overture,toot toot tootie toot dance of the reedpipes,peanut brittle brigade march,sugar rum cherry dance of the sugarplum fairy,entracte,the volga vouty russian dance,chinoiserie chinese dance,dance of the flac album. I never knew how ellington got the nickname duke until i saw him live. Unforgettable big band performs the duke ellingtonbilly strayhorn interpretation of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite at the big band christmas spectacular, december 10, 2017 in york, pa. Duke ellington presents the nutcracker suite youtube. Duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn. The nutcracker suite for orchestra peter ilyich tchaikovsky wise. This authentic edition of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite, as ar. Composed by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky arranged by billy strayhorn and duke ellington all instruments have been. Coarranged by billy strayhorn, this is a remarkable work by the ellington orchestra. 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. Duke ellington was the true master of the big band era, although a lot of benny goodman followers might disagree.
This authentic edition of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite, as arranged in 1960 by billy strayhorn and duke ellington, was assembled from the original. The musical performance will take place december, 14, 2014 at the apollo. In 1960 duke ellington and billy strayhorn reinvented tchaikovskys holiday ballet classic as a jazzy, brassy melting pot of musical styles past and present. 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. The complete brunswick and vocalion recordings of duke ellington rec. The tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn duke ellington and his orchestra. Ellingtons band is not keen on tackling it, but he is not dissuaded. Jazz instruments jazzing it up with duke ellington. Its a challenge to transform the nutcracker suites romantic orchestra into jumpin jazz melodies, but thats exactly what duke ellington and his collaborator, billy strayhorn, did.
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. 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. The sequence in the ellingtonstrayhorn nutcracker runs. The baltimore symphony orchestra performs duke ellingtons nutcracker with step afrika. The nutcracker suite for jazz band peter ilyich tchaikovsky wise. The rhythm section also included sam woodyard, back with the band after a.
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