Ellington strayhorn nutcracker suite

Duke ellington and his orchestra, 1960, stereo, an album by duke ellington on spotify. Thank you so much for your comments on the ellington strayhorn adaptation of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite. Dec 03, 2015 yet the nutcracker suite was the first time strayhorns name was seen as equal to the duke. The tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn duke ellington and his orchestra. 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. In 1960 duke ellington and billy strayhorn reinvented peter ilyich tchaikovskys holiday ballet classic, the nutcracker suite, as a jazzy, brassy melting pot of musical styles past and present, according to the new york times. Lawrence brown, juan tizol, johnny hodges, and harry carney. Yet the nutcracker suite was the first time strayhorns name was seen as equal to the duke. 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. Nutcracker suites harmonie ensemble new york, steven richman on allmusic 20 edward kennedy duke ellington devoted. The ellingtonstrayhorn arrangement, as recorded by the ellington band, poses a challenge to a dance company. It was the first time his name received equal billing to ellingtons. Description provided by wikipedia under creative commons attribution ccbysa 4.

In 1960 duke ellington and billy strayhorn reinvented peter ilyich tchaikovskys holiday ballet classic, the nutcracker suite, as a jazzy, brassy. Duke ellingtons nutcracker suite by anna harwell celenza and don tate. Dec 15 duke ellingtons nutcracker orange county, ca patch. The placement of the traditional nutcracker suite before the ellington strayhorn version was a stroke of genius. Duke ellingtons nutcracker suite episode 1 on this podcast i do a side by side comparison between the original by tchaikovsky and the ellingtonstrayhorn version.

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. In his original liner notes for the ellingtonstrayhorn nutcracker suite, record producer irving townsend included the fantastic fiction that ellington met tchaikovsky while ellingtons orchestra was performing at the riviera hotel in las vegas. In the early 1960s, ellington embraced recording with artists who had been friendly rivals in the past, or were younger musicians who focused on later styles. For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were crosschecked carefully with the original duke ellington. The setting of the nutcracker suite that he composed with billy strayhorn has been among the most popular of these efforts, but it, like the dukes other concert works, remains. Ellington and strayhorn, always looking for new musical territory, produced suites for john steinbecks novel sweet thursday, tchaikovskys nutcracker suite and edvard griegs peer gynt. The sugar plum fairy emerged as the sultry sugar rum cherry, while the dance of the reed pipes became toot. Duke ellington, billy strayhorn and the adventures of peer. In 1960 duke ellington and his orchestra recorded an album for the columbia label titled swinging suites by edward e.

It challenged us to think about how the creation of most arts is a lot messier, says. Visions of sugar rum cherries tap dance in her head the new. This authentic edition of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite, as ar. The classical masterpiece is a holiday favorite and tinkering with something so well known is a bit risky. 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. Philharmonic society of orange county duke ellingtons. As orchestrators and harmonists, ellington and strayhorn found inspiration in debussy and ravel. Its a 30minute suite, not a fulllength ballet score. This version acknowledges strayhorn by titling the set strayhorn ellington. In 1960, duke ellington and billy strayhorn arranged their own jazz version of the suite for columbia records. Thank you also for the insight on billy strayhorns contribution to that work.

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. December 2, 1938 billy strayhorn meets duke ellington at the stanley theater, where ellington was performing with his orchestra. Dec 28, 2016 the nutcracker suite recorded for the columbia label in 1960 featuring jazz interpretations of the nutcracker by pyotr illyich tchaikovsky, arranged by ellington and strayhorn. William thomas strayhorn november 29, 1915 may 31, 1967 was an american jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, best remembered for his longtime collaboration with bandleader and composer duke ellington that lasted nearly three decades. The acclaimed chicago jazz orchestra cjo will debut a new holiday music tradition in chicago when it presents duke ellington and billy strayhorns the nutcracker suite, a jazzinfused. With titles such as sugar rum cherry, peanut brittle brigade and chinoiserie strayhorn breathes new life into one of the most beloved orchestral suites ever written.

Duke ellington s nutcracker suite by anna harwell celenza and don tate. Strayhorns arrangement for the duke ellington orchestra is imaginative, quirky and hugely fun to play. Ellington and strayhorn took some liberties with the suite, and this is. Dec 18, 2019 the ellingtonstrayhorn arrangement, as recorded by the ellington band, poses a challenge to a dance company. 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 placement of the traditional nutcracker suite before the ellingtonstrayhorn version was a stroke of genius. Complete your duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky collection. Duke ellington, billy strayhorn, and the adventures of peer gynt in america 3 figure 1. 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 group is small and plays the work in a boxlike small hall. Tapping ellington and strayhorns nutcracker suite wise.

Few musicians can handle the demands of both classical and big band jazz conducting with such facility as does steven richman. This edition of tchaikovsky s 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. After offering his take on the nutcracker suite, with billy strayhorn as arranger, he would go on to write the far east suite 1966, also with strayhorn, the new orleans suite 1970, and a jazz version of the christian liturgy in his sacred concerts of the 1960s. Duke ellingtons nutcracker with 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. Composer billy strayhorn takes center stage alongside jazz legend duke ellington. The nutcracker suite was fairly popular when it was. For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were cross. 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.

This version acknowledges strayhorn by titling the set strayhornellington. It juxtaposes two versions of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite on the same disc. Progressive big band duke ellington peer gynt suites. Tchaikovskys nutcracker has become one of the most recognized holiday performances since its debut performance in 1892. Later, in the early 2000s, the tap innovator brenda bufalino created her own tap version. Ellington and strayhorn took some liberties with the suite, and this is apparent right from the start. His compositions include take the a train, chelsea bridge, a flower is a lovesome. Ellington once said there are simply two kinds of music.

The duke ellington orchestra keeps its transformed the nutcracker suite fresh and surprising, even 59 years after its debut. Thank you also for the insight on billy strayhorn s contribution to that work. The original scores are now being published by alfred publishing. Duke ellington presents the nutcracker suite youtube. 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. A number of the dukes original members of his 19381941 band performed on the recording including. Recording my castlebar whammy clavinet on a live stream by lachy doley. By describing peer gynts adventures in america, i am situating the ellingtonstrayhorn peer gynt suites in its cultural context to expand listeners comprehension of and appreciation for the music.

Thank you so much for your comments on the ellingtonstrayhorn adaptation of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite. While largely forgotten today, the popular album marked a watershed in one of american musics most consequent and productive partnerships, as ellington gave strayhorn. Tapping ellington and strayhorns nutcracker suite wise music. Yet the nutcracker suite marks a milestone for strayhorn. Duke ellington and billy strayhorns nutcracker suite arrangements offer an ideal vehicle for shelbys jazz orchestra. Visions of sugar rum cherries tap dance in her head. 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 real attraction of the album, though, is the jazz version of the nutcracker suite devised by jazz greats duke ellington and billy strayhorn. Duke ellington, billy strayhorn, and the adventures of. Dec 16, 2019 in the 1990s there was the harlem nutcracker, which also used the ellingtonstrayhorn music. Ellington and strayhorns the nutcracker suite at studenaker. 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. 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. In the 1990s there was the harlem nutcracker, which also used the ellingtonstrayhorn music. The nutcracker suite duke ellington album wikipedia. Ellingtonstrayhorn peanut brittle brigade tchaikovsky dance of the reed pipes arr.

By doing this, the original is still fresh in the listeners mind when the swinging. Esu insider duke ellingtons nutcracker suite returns to esu. In his original liner notes for the ellington strayhorn nutcracker suite, record producer irving townsend included the fantastic fiction that ellington met tchaikovsky while ellington s orchestra was performing at the riviera hotel in las vegas. Dec 21, 2019 in 1960, at the urging of billy strayhorn, the duke ellington orchestra recorded the nutcracker suite columbia, a brilliant jazz interpretation of tchaikovskys music. The nutcracker suite sheet music by ellingtonstrayhorn. 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. 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.

Doing so pays a lot of dividends, even if the tchaikovsky suite, played by new yorks harmonie ensemble, is extremely unorthodox. By doing this, the original is still fresh in the listeners mind when the swinging jazz version of it begins. Nov 30, 2018 yet the nutcracker suite marks a milestone for strayhorn. Edward kennedy duke ellington devoted major efforts over the last three decades of his life to pieces that were, if not entirely classical in inspiration, at least composed upon the canvas of western concert music. Having recorded impressive recreations of such musical icons as gershwingrofewhiteman and miles davisgil evans, the ellingtonstrayhorn treatment of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite was a logical next step. The nutcracker suite by tchaikovsky 1892 the nutcracker suite by tchaikovsky, arr. Jazz up your holidays with duke ellingtons dazzling reimagining of. Duke ellington and his orchestra ellingtonstrayhorn. The album was rereleased on cd in 1990 as part of three suites along with ellingtons reworking of griegs peer gynt suite and suite thursday, his. Knowing that the russian died in 1893, a full six years before the american was born, this meeting. 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. This album paired two multimovement compositions created collaboratively by duke ellington and billy strayhorn. 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, at the urging of billy strayhorn, the duke ellington orchestra recorded the nutcracker suite columbia, a brilliant jazz interpretation of tchaikovskys music.