One of duke ellington s most delightful adaptations of another composers material is his reworking of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite into jazz. While largely forgotten today, the popular album marked a watershed in one of american musics most consequent and productive partnerships, as ellington gave strayhorn. The nutcracker suite duke ellington credits allmusic. The musical performance will take place december, 14, 2014 at the apollo. 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 their doubts that the project would amount to much. Nov, 2019 tickets to duke ellingtons nutcracker suite concert can be purchased online through ccms ebox office, over the phone at 55564183 or in person at the ccm box office in the atrium of ucs corbett center for the performing arts.
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. Featuring jazz interpretations of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, the album has come to be recognized as one of duke ellingtons most important albums of the. Ballet afrique presents duke ellingtons the nutcracker suite. 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. Duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky the nutcracker suite. The liner to the original nutcracker suite cd is notable for two reasons. His band and guest singers austin and washington breathe new life into the singular cultural fusion of tchaikovsky with the orchestral language of ellington.
Complete your duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky collection. Duke ellington presents the nutcracker suite youtube. For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were crosschecked carefully with the original duke ellington orchestra recording columbia cs 8341. 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. 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. By doing this, the original is still fresh in the listeners mind when the swinging. First, because it portrays billy strayhorn and recognizes the impact of this private man on duke ellington s music. Duke ellington the nutcracker suite rtv slovenia symphony orchestra duration. Visions of sugar rum cherries tap dance in her head the new.
Coarranged by billy strayhorn, this is a remarkable work by the ellington orchestra. The music for peer gynt is all at once subtle, dramatic and at times, haunting. Apr 08, 2014 the tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn duke ellington and his orchestra. His music for jazz orchestra from the nutcracker takes the music of tchaikovsky to a new, modern dimension that will no doubt resonate with many the way the classical ballet music does not. Duke ellington and his orchestra the nutcracker suite. It is one of my most favorite programs by duke ellington. Ellington once said there are simply two kinds of music. Later, in the early 2000s, the tap innovator brenda bufalino created her own tap version. Three suites highlights the genius that is duke ellington. Ballet afrique presents duke ellingtons the nutcracker. 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. Duke ellington the nutcracker suite, for orchestra. Dec 16, 2019 in the 1990s there was the harlem nutcracker, which also used the ellingtonstrayhorn music.
On a night in 1960, legendary musician and band leader duke ellington, along with his collaborator billy strayhorn, decided to jazz up tchaikovskys christmastime staple, nutcracker suite. The queens suite is as beautiful and fascinating as the story of its creation, which begins when an american duke met the queen of england. While performing at the leeds music festival in 1958, composer, pianist, and band leader duke ellington was invited to attend the mayors reception at leeds civic hall. In addition, enjoy stunning choreography from ccm musical theatres stars of tomorrow.
Duke ellington nutcracker suite the voice of black cincinnati. 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. Dec 03, 2015 the marquee at the apollo advertises duke ellington s nutcracker suite december 11, 2014 in new york. Duke ellingtons nutcracker with duke ellington orchestra. In 1960, at the urging of billy strayhorn, the duke ellington orchestra recorded the nutcracker suite columbia, a brilliant jazz interpretation of tchaikovskys music.
Duke ellington and his orchestra nutcracker suite peer. 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. 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. Ellingtons band memebers were not so sure that a classical ballet could become a coolcat jazz number. The nutcracker suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded for the columbia label in 1960 featuring jazz.
Find album credit information for the nutcracker suite duke ellington on allmusic. Its a work that is reimagined by the composing genius. Seeing as how it is christmas, i figured that another mass upload would be an appropriate gift to give out on youtube, and what better to start with, then duke ellingtons rendition of the. Duke ellington sugar rum cherry dance of the sugarplum fairy by masterxelpud. Ellingtons nutcracker at the jazz corner all about jazz. Duke ellingtons nutcracker suite once upon a masterpiece by anna harwell celenza and don tate sep 25, 2018. Nutcracker suite is a work that most of us know from the christmas holiday, a ballet that as a schoolchild one had to see. In 1960, duke ellington and billy strayhorn arranged their own virtuosic adaptation of pyotr ilyich tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite for the 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. Nov 30, 2018 tchaikovskys nutcracker gets the ellington treatment. Dec 25, 2009 seeing as how it is christmas, i figured that another mass upload would be an appropriate gift to give out on youtube, and what better to start with, then duke ellingtons rendition of the. Oct 08, 20 the real attraction of the album, though, is the jazz version of the nutcracker suite devised by jazz greats duke ellington and billy strayhorn. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. In 1960, duke ellington and billy strayhorn composed jazz interpretations of pieces from tchaikovskys score, recorded and released on lp as the nutcracker suite. Jump and jive with ccms jazz band this fall as they perform a swinging duke ellington nutcracker suite. Ccm jazz and musical theatre present duke ellington. Dec 20, 2010 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. The duke ellington orchestra keeps its transformed the nutcracker suite fresh and surprising, even 59 years after its. The tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn duke ellington and his orchestra. Duke ellington and his orchestra the nutcracker suite 1960. Duke ellington composer the nutcracker suite, for orchestra tchaikovskyellingtonstrayhorn music sales classical.
The nutcracker suite additional works to be announced jazz up your holidays with duke ellingtons dazzling reimagining of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, performed by the duke ellington orchestrathe only ensemble directly carrying on the tradition from duke himself. 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. 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. Listen free to duke ellington the nutcracker suite overture, toot toot tootie toot dance of the reedpipes and more. 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. The placement of the traditional nutcracker suite before the ellington strayhorn version was a stroke of genius. Peer gynt suites nos 1 and 2 and ellington strayhorn. Special guest councilwoman natasha harpermadison appears in the iconic role of mother ginger. Nutcracker suites harmonie ensemble new york, steven richman on allmusic 20 edward kennedy duke ellington devoted. 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. Many know him as duke ellingtons longtime collaborator, composer and. The nutcracker suite duke ellington album wikipedia. Suite thursday when you count it make them 4 suites though. Dec 20, 2018 duke ellington and billy strayhorns nutcracker suite arrangements offer an ideal vehicle for shelbys jazz orchestra.
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