First, because it portrays billy strayhorn and recognizes the impact of this private man on duke ellington s music. Duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn. The tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn duke ellington and his orchestra. 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. Aardvark jazz orchestra brings nutcracker to life the. The nutcracker suite sheet music by ellingtonstrayhorn sku. By doing this, the original is still fresh in the listeners mind when the swinging.
This album paired two multimovement compositions created collaboratively by duke ellington and billy strayhorn. Its a challenge to transform the nutcracker suite s romantic orchestra into jumpin jazz melodies, but thats exactly what duke ellington and his collaborator, billy strayhorn, did. Relatively late in his career, ellington decided to release an album devoted to orchestrations of other composers and chose tchaikovskys nutcracker suite not exactly a safe choice, since many consider tchaikovsky one of the great orchestrators. But, duke ellington and billy strayhorns arrangements will take you to another realm. The placement of the traditional nutcracker suite before the ellingtonstrayhorn version was a stroke of genius. Nutcracker suite overture youtube duke ellington the nutcracker suite rtv slovenia symphony orchestra duration. The idea for combining the two nutcrackers came about when trombonist art baron, who had played with duke ellington, introduced steven richman to a 1960 recording of the nutcracker suite in ellington and billy strayhorn s superb jazz arrangement. Alfred is proud to partner with the billy strayhorn and duke ellington estates to release the famous jazzy arrangement of tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite, as performed by the duke ellington orchestra. Join the calgary creative arts ensemble as they present music from tchaikovskys beloved nutcracker suite as reimagined by the great duke ellington and billy strayhorn. Byron colborn big band plays ellingtonstrayhorn nutcracker suite. 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. The nutcracker suite, an album by duke ellington, strayhorn 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. Ellingtonstrayhorntchaikovsky nutcracker suite act one. Byron colborn big band plays ellington strayhorn nutcracker suite.
Yet the nutcracker suite was the first time strayhorns name was seen as equal to the duke. Dec 03, 2015 yet the nutcracker suite was the first time strayhorns name was seen as equal to the duke. Duke ellington three suites nutcracker, peer gynt, suite thursday remastered 1990. Duke ellington and his orchestra, ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky. 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. In 1960, ellington and strayhorn wrote their version of the famous tchaikovsky ballet. Sugar rum cherry dance of the sugarplum fairy 05 the nutcracker suite. But, duke ellington and billy strayhorn s arrangements will take you to. Duke ellington presents the nutcracker suite youtube. Licensed to youtube by kontor new media music, sme on behalf of school of jazz records.
The nutcracker suite is duke ellington and billy strayhorns masterful arrangement of tchaikovskys classic. Dc politics voter registration ellingtonstrayhorn nutcracker suite. In 1960 duke ellington and his orchestra recorded an album for the columbia label titled swinging suites by edward e. The placement of the traditional nutcracker suite before the ellington strayhorn version was a stroke of genius. Duke ellington and billy strayhorn arranged the infamous tchaikovsky nutcracker suite that we all know and love into one swingin big band set that we are excited to perform.
The ellington suites is an album by american pianist, composer, and bandleader duke ellington which collects three suites recorded in 1959, 1971, and 1972 released on the pablo label in 1976. For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were crosschecked carefully with the original duke ellington. Ellington s band is not keen on tackling it, but he is not dissuaded. Richman loved it, and immediately decided he had to perform it sidebyside with tchaikovskys. Drummer cafe alfred releases popular strayhorn, ellington. Pre concert at california center for the arts, escondido. The rhythm section also included sam woodyard, back with the band after a years. One of duke ellingtons most delightful adaptations of another composers material is his reworking of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite into jazz. Get in the holiday spirit in the beautiful surroundings of calgarys grace presbyterian church for an afternoon of swinging big band jazz.
In 1960 duke ellington and billy strayhorn reinvented peter ilyich tchaikovskys holiday ballet classic, the nutcracker suite, as a jazzy, brassy. It challenged us to think about how the creation of most arts is a lot messier, says. Duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky the nutcracker suite. One of duke ellington s most delightful adaptations of another composers material is his reworking of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite into jazz. The nutcracker music and ballet are holiday staples. After the ensemble, ray nance and jimmy hamilton take solos, and there is a piano solo, one of the few in this suite. Ellingtons reworking of griegs peer gynt suites including in the hall of the mountain king and his tribute to john steinbeck suite thursday are also among his better extended works, really. Ellingtons band is not keen on tackling it, but he is not dissuaded. 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.
The nutcracker suite sheet music by ellingtonstrayhorn. The liner to the original nutcracker suite cd is notable for two reasons. Ellingtons band memebers were not so sure that a classical ballet could become a coolcat jazz number. It juxtaposes two versions of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite on the same disc. This authentic edition of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite, as ar. Find similar albums to the nutcracker suite duke ellington on allmusic. The nutcracker suite duke ellington similar allmusic. Composer billy strayhorn takes center stage alongside jazz legend duke ellington in this dynamic picture book account of the composition and recording of their reimagined nutcracker suite. Duke ellingtons nutcracker suite by anna harwell celenza and don tate. Bigband duke ellington 1960 three suites nutcracker. For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were cross. 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. This release, edited by jeff lindberg for level 6 jazz ensembles, marks the first time in history the authentic transcription of this. Aardvark began rehearsing the ellingtonstrayhorn nutcracker early in its fall season in order to be ready for the orchestras annual christmas concert aardvarks 41st.
Progressive big band duke ellington peer gynt suites. Its 1960 and jazz fans cant get enough of duke ellington and his big band. Featuring jazz interpretations of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, the album has come to be recognised as one of duke ellington s most important albums of the 1960s. Heres a clever, wellexecuted album with a clever, wellexecuted plan. The nutcracker suite duke ellington album wikipedia. 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. As orchestrators and harmonists, ellington and strayhorn found inspiration in debussy and ravel. It is a bit startling that, as conductor steven richman observes in his booklet notes, that the ellington strayhorn nutcracker has apparently never until now been paired with the tchaikovsky version on a single album.
Toot toot tootie toot dance of the reedpipes, peanut brittle brigade march, sugar rum cherry dance of the sugarplum fairy, danse of the floreadores. 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. Eager to create fresh, new tunes, duke and his bestfriend and collaborator, billy strayhorn, decide to reinvent a holiday tradition. In their own unique style, the two composers remake tchaikovskys nutcracker suite. The legendary composing and arranging skills of duke ellington and billy strayhorn also make it nutcracker season for jazz aficionados. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Ellington s band members were not so sure that a classical ballet could become a coolcat jazz number.
The classical masterpiece is a holiday favorite and tinkering with something so well known is a bit risky. The chris milyo big band is a 15piece jazz ensemble made up of dfws finest musicians. The baltimore symphony orchestra performs duke ellingtons nutcracker with step afrika. Nov 28, 2014 the baltimore symphony orchestra performs duke ellingtons nutcracker with step afrika.
Dec 23, 2010 alfred is proud to partner with the billy strayhorn and duke ellington estates to release the famous jazzy arrangement of tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite, as performed by the duke ellington orchestra. 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. Composer billy strayhorn takes center stage alongside jazz legend duke ellington. 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. Ellingtons band members were not so sure that a classical ballet could become a coolcat jazz number.
Peanut brittle brigade march this is one of the fine examples of the full ellington band turning a foursided march theme into a great jazz performance. It is a bit startling that, as conductor steven richman observes in his booklet notes, that the ellingtonstrayhorn nutcracker has apparently never until now been paired with the tchaikovsky version on a single album. But duke and billy, inspired by their travels and by musical. Duke ellington s nutcracker suite by anna harwell celenza and don tate. Ellington and billy strayhorn wrote the queens suite for queen elizabeth ii who was presented with a single pressing of the. The baltimore symphony orchestra will present a jazzy new take on tchaikovskys classic the nutcracker this year as part of its holiday concert lineup. 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. Justin varnes the jazz corner hilton head island, sc december 15, 2017 every christmas is the nutcracker season for ballet aficionados. Duke ellington and his orchestra, 1960, stereo, an album by duke ellington on spotify. In 1960, duke ellington and billy strayhorn composed jazz interpretations of pieces from tchaikovskys score, recorded and released on lp as the nutcracker suite. Aardvark began rehearsing the ellington strayhorn nutcracker early in its fall season in order to be ready for the orchestras annual christmas concert aardvarks 41st. Dec 09, 2019 byron colborn big band plays ellingtonstrayhorn nutcracker suite.
Duke ellington, billy strayhorn and the adventures of peer. But, duke ellington and billy strayhorns arrangements will take you to. The idea for combining the two nutcrackers came about when trombonist art baron, who had played with duke ellington, introduced steven richman to a 1960 recording of the nutcracker suite in ellington and billy strayhorns superb jazz arrangement. Anna harwell celenza duke ellingtons nutcracker suite. Alfred releases popular strayhorn, ellington arrangement. 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. Doing so pays a lot of dividends, even if the tchaikovsky suite, played by new yorks harmonie ensemble, is extremely unorthodox. Join the thompson jazz studies program for a joyful and swinging evening of the hippest holiday music ever. 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. Duke ellington and his orchestra, ellington, strayhorn. Ellingtons nutcracker at the jazz corner all about jazz. Orchestra season analysis institute for composer diversity. 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.
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