Duke ellington and his orchestra the nutcracker suite 1960. This album paired two multimovement compositions created collaboratively by duke ellington and billy strayhorn. Duke ellington and his orchestra the nutcracker suite. 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. Eager to create fresh, new tunes, duke and his bestfriend and collaborator, billy strayhorn, decide to reinvent a holiday tradition. Duke ellington, american pianist who was the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of his time. The nutcracker suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded for the columbia label in 1960 featuring jazz.
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. Ellingtonstrayhorn peanut brittle brigade tchaikovsky dance of the reed pipes. 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. 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. Look through our selection of duke ellingtons the nutcracker. This book tells in story form how duke ellington was inspired to take tchaikovskys nutcracker suite and write it for jazz. Composer billy strayhorn takes center stage alongside jazz legend duke ellington. Find album credit information for the nutcracker suite duke ellington on allmusic. A holiday concert tradition, the orchestra will perform the complete nutcracker suite as arranged for jazz ensemble by the incomparable duke ellington and billy strayhorn, along with other holiday favorites. 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.
The queens suite is as beautiful and fascinating as the story of its. Duke ellington, billy strayhorn and the adventures of peer. 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. Apr 08, 2014 the tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn duke ellington and his orchestra. Publishers weekly putting a jazzy spin on the holiday, celenza tells the true story of how duke ellington recorded his rendition of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite. The renaissance man of jazz ella fitzgerald called him the duke of ellington. Knowing that the russian died in 1893, a full six years before the. Greatest allround musical figure of the 20th century, who achieved monumental status as a composer, bandleader, arranger, and instrumentalist. Listen free to duke ellington the nutcracker suite overture, toot toot tootie toot dance of the reedpipes and more. 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. Writing it was easy, it was finished in less than three months, but convincing the musicians of the idea was another matter. Ballet afrique presents duke ellingtons the nutcracker. He met duke ellington when he was 23 years old and began working with. Visions of sugar rum cherries tap dance in her head the new.
The rocky mountain jazz collective with special guests skyview high school choir, doug nagel, others. Celebrate the season at castleton with duke ellingtons nutcracker suite. In the 1990s there was the harlem nutcracker, which also used the ellingtonstrayhorn music. Visions of sugar rum cherries tap dance in her head the.
Dec 12, 2019 austin, texas ballet afrique contemporary dance company will present duke ellingtons the nutcracker to a soldout crowd at the mccallum arts center friday. Celebrate the season at castleton with duke ellingtons. 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. View the duke ellingtons the nutcracker suite schedule just above and click the ticket icon to see our big selection of tickets. The tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn duke ellington and his orchestra. Duke ellington has always been a favorite of mine and the story behind this recording is as great as the music. Nutcracker suite overture youtube duke ellington and his orchestra. Americas music and its african american roots nutcracker suite in full score dover music.
Knowing that the russian died in 1893, a full six years before the american was born, this meeting. The musical performance will take place december, 14, 2014 at the apollo. Ellington s band memebers were not so sure that a classical ballet could become a coolcat jazz number. Many know him as duke ellingtons longtime collaborator, composer and. Duke ellingtons nutcracker and a special suite for the queen. Putting a jazzy spin on the holiday, celenza tells the true story of how duke ellington recorded his rendition of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite. After the ensemble, ray nance and jimmy hamilton take solos, and there is a piano solo, one. The baltimore symphony orchestra performs duke ellingtons nutcracker with step afrika. 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.
Duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky the nutcracker suite. After the ensemble, ray nance and jimmy hamilton take solos, and there is a piano solo, one of the few in this suite. Cd recording of the ellingtonstrayhorn composition included. Nov 28, 2014 the baltimore symphony orchestra performs duke ellingtons nutcracker with step afrika. Its 1960 and jazz fans cant get enough of duke ellington and his big band.
In the 1990s there was the harlem nutcracker, which also used the ellington strayhorn music. Duke ellington presents the nutcracker suite youtube. The tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn. Dec 03, 2015 the marquee at the apollo advertises duke ellington s nutcracker suite december 11, 2014 in new york. 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. Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at. Swingin nutcracker featuring the nutcracker suite by tchaikovsky 1892 the nutcracker suite by tchaikovsky, arr. Special guest councilwoman natasha harpermadison appears in the iconic role of mother ginger. Duke ellingtons nutcracker suite with cd audio by anna. The young duke, born edward kennedy ellington in washington d. The show is a collaboration with the austin community college jazz ensemble. Swingin nutcracker featuring the nutcracker suite by tchaikovsky 1892. Duke ellingtons nutcracker suite hardcover july 1, 2011. The nutcracker suite duke ellington album wikipedia.
For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were crosschecked carefully with the original duke ellington. In the 1920s, ellington performed in broadway nightclubs as the bandleader of a sextet, a group which in time grew to a 10piece ensemble. Nutcracker with a swinging sax section, musical holiday bliss. Austin, texas ballet afrique contemporary dance company will present duke ellingtons the nutcracker to a soldout crowd at the mccallum arts center friday. The marquee at the apollo advertises duke ellingtons nutcracker suite december 11, 2014 in new york. 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. Ellington and strayhorn collaborated to create 1960s the nutcracker suite. Dec 18, 2019 the ellingtonstrayhorn arrangement, as recorded by the ellington band, poses a challenge to a dance company.
Its a 30minute suite, not a full length ballet score. The marquee at the apollo advertises duke ellington s nutcracker suite december 11, 2014 in new york. Duke ellingtons nutcracker was a one time only event at the music center at strathmore on december 6 th 2014. Florida wind symphony jazz orchestra will present an ellington nutcracker in the university theatre. 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. 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. Publishers weekly putting a jazzy spin on the holiday, celenza tells the true story of how duke ellington recorded his. The musical life of duke ellington the nutcracker activity book, bk 1. Anna harwell celenza duke ellingtons nutcracker suite. Duke ellingtons the nutcracker suite could be coming to a city near you.
Later, in the early 2000s, the tap innovator brenda bufalino created her own tap version. Ellingtons band memebers were not so sure that a classical ballet could become a coolcat jazz number. Discover littleknown secrets and interesting discorse on its history, creation, and. 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.
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. Dec 16, 2019 in the 1990s there was the harlem nutcracker, which also used the ellingtonstrayhorn music. 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 1960 duke ellington and his orchestra recorded an album for the columbia label titled swinging suites by edward e. The story of one of americas greatest composers, duke ellington, is lavishly told here in jazzinspired prose. 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. Duke ellingtons nutcracker suite by anna harwell celenza and don tate. Complete your duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky collection.
The nutcracker suite duke ellington credits allmusic. A cd recording of the ellingtonstrayhorn composition is also. In their own unique style, the two composers remake tchaikovskys 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. 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. The ellingtonstrayhorn arrangement, as recorded by the ellington band, poses a challenge to a dance company.
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