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. One of the greatest composers of the 20th century, and the leader for 50 years of a band that became the greatest of all jazz orchestras. 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 harlem nutcracker will be presented at the wiltern theatre next friday and dec. David berger and the sultans of swing, duke ellington, billy strayhorn, david berger, pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky harlem nutcracker music. 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. Duke ellington has always been a favorite of mine and the story behind this. The nutcracker suite duke ellington album wikipedia. Writing it was easy, it was finished in less than three months, but convincing the musicians of the idea was another matter.
A piece with a jazz blues sound in f minor with an ostinato piano pattern, it has been cited as one of ellington s mood pieces. 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. 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. One of duke ellington s most delightful adaptations of another composers material is his reworking of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite into jazz. Duke ellingtons harlem nutcracker harmonie ensemblenew york by wasmax2000. Duke ellington and his orchestra the nutcracker suite 1960. 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 nutcracker suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke. Classical swing is a unique musical juxtaposition of the nutcracker suite by piotr tchaikovsky and the peer gynt. In the late 90s, for a show called the harlem nutcracker, arrangerbandleader david berger utilized five themes from the ellingtonstrayhorn version and added nine of his own, being creative within the ellington style. The beloved harlem nutcracker bankrupted choreographer donald. For a twist on a seasonal classic, nothing beats duke ellingtons nutcracker suite. In the late 90s, for a show called the harlem nutcracker, arrangerbandleader david berger utilized five themes from the ellington strayhorn version and added nine of his own, being creative within the ellington style. Broadway world exclaims, it was a joy to hear these favorite christmas classics arranged by duke ellington with a soft, smooth feel that certainly got the audience in the spirit of christmas.
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. In 1996, byrd was a gutsy and wellrespected new york choreographer who wanted to transpose the nutcracker into harlem, set to duke ellington and billy strayhorns jazz arrangements of the. 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. Charles osgood reports on the harlem nutcracker, a reinvention of the classic tchaikovsky ballet, reimagined by way of duke ellington and billy strayhorn. 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 baltimore symphony orchestra performs duke ellingtons nutcracker with step afrika. The beloved harlem nutcracker bankrupted choreographer. Use the lead layout guide to ensure the section follows wikipedia s norms and to be inclusive of all essential details. Nutcracker suite is a work that most of us know from the christmas holiday, a ballet that as a schoolchild one had to see. Liberian suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded for the columbia label in 1947. The suite represents one of ellingtons early extended compositions and was commissioned for the liberian centennial.
Donald byrd choreographs the harlem nutcracker for donald. Visions of sugar rum cherries tap dance in her head the new. He wrote thousands of works, composing popular songs, art songs, a wide variety of instrumentals, suites, symphonic works, movie and tv scores, and music for ballet all of a very high quality. The nutcracker suite duke ellington credits allmusic. The ensemble is austins first african american group to. In the 1990s there was the harlem nutcracker, which also used the ellingtonstrayhorn music. The tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn duke ellington and his orchestra. While largely forgotten today, the popular album marked a watershed in one of american musics most consequent and productive partnerships, as ellington gave strayhorn. Big band meet symphonic and one conductor who make both tchaikovsky and ellington.
Find album credit information for the nutcracker suite duke ellington on allmusic. The harlem nutcracker duke ellington, billy strayhorn, based on. The music, as duke liked to say, was beyond category. Cottontail 1940 and harlem airshaft 1940, ellington embarked on more expansive pieces, including such sweet thunder 1957 and the nutcracker suite 1960, that stretched the boundaries of his genre. In the 1920s, ellington performed in broadway nightclubs as the bandleader of a sextet, a group which in time grew to a 10piece ensemble. It juxtaposes two versions of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite on the same disc. In the late 50s, duke ellington and billy strayhorn adapted tchaikovskys nutcracker suite, transforming it from russian classical music to american jazz. The harlem nutcracker belongs most of all to berger, who sustains the scintillating dialogue with tchaikovsky that ellington and strayhorn initiated using sections of the nutcracker they never touched. David berger and the sultans of swing jazz up the holiday season with a sample from duke ellington s version of the nutcracker suite performed by david berger jazz. Dec 16, 2019 in the 1990s there was the harlem nutcracker, which also used the ellingtonstrayhorn music. Special guest councilwoman natasha harpermadison appears in the iconic role of mother ginger. Lets share together the most beautiful moments of jazz duke ellington presents the nutcracker suite the sound of jazz on harlem in montmartre.
Duke ellington and his orchestra the nutcracker suite. Duke ellingtons nutcracker suite with cd audio by anna. 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. Dec 03, 2015 the marquee at the apollo advertises duke ellington s nutcracker suite december 11, 2014 in new york. 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. 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. Ellingtons rarely heard sacred music completes the program. Classical swing is a unique musical juxtaposition of the nutcracker suite by piotr tchaikovsky and the peer.
Duke ellington presents the nutcracker suite youtube. It opens with trumpet, playing blues sounds in f minor over the ostinato pattern, followed by a segment of 14 bars with some harmony. Its a work that is reimagined by the composing genius. Echoes of harlem, also known as cooties concerto, is a 1936 composition by duke ellington. Apr 25, 2020 duke ellington, american pianist who was the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of his time. Ballet afrique presents duke ellingtons the nutcracker.
The lead section of this article may need to be rewritten. Ballet afrique presents duke ellingtons the nutcracker suite. The album was ellingons second 10 lp album and one of his earlier works on the columbia label. Duke ellingtons harlem nutcracker harmonie ensemblenew. 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. A sweet duke ellington suite, is a tribute to duke ellington, the harlem renaissance pianist and composer. Ellingtons nutcracker will be set to a live jazz band playing the duke ellington orchestras composition of the nutcracker suite, arranged by billy strayhorn with selections from david bergers harlem nutcracker 1996. Nov 18, 2019 ellingtons nutcracker will be set to a live jazz band playing the duke ellington orchestras composition of the nutcracker suite, arranged by billy strayhorn with selections from david bergers harlem nutcracker 1996. Find duke ellington composition information on allmusic. Duke ellington and his kentucky club orchestra grew to a group of ten players. Donald byrd choreographs the harlem nutcracker for donald byrdthe group, transporting hoffmanns story to black america and using duke ellingtons and billy strayhorns jazz adaptation of the. Duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky the nutcracker suite.
His compositions include take the a train, chelsea bridge, a flower is a lovesome. 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. It is that time of year again, and david bergers adaptation and extension of duke ellingtonbilly strayhorns harlem nutcracker suite is one swinging way to enjoy music of this season. 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. Duke ellington, american pianist who was the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of his time. One of duke ellingtons most delightful adaptations of another composers material is his reworking of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite into jazz. December 2, 1938 billy strayhorn meets duke ellington at the stanley theater, where ellington was performing with his orchestra. The musical performance will take place december, 14, 2014 at the apollo.
Apr 08, 2014 the tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn. The musical performance will take place december, 14, 2014 at. April 2019 learn how and when to remove this template message this is the discography of duke ellington. The harlem nutcracker concert onpl casse noisette youtube. Donald byrds harlem nutcracker was instantly loved when it. The tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn. When i first heard the duke ellington orchestras version of the nutcracker seven years ago, it made me want to. Nov 28, 2014 the baltimore symphony orchestra performs duke ellingtons nutcracker with step afrika. 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. The short story is that berger, an expert on ellington and a top notch transcriber, was asked to write ninety more. In 1996, byrd was a gutsy and wellrespected new york choreographer who wanted to transpose the nutcracker into harlem, set to duke ellington and billy strayhorns jazz arrangements of.
Even though it was an overseas vendor, the dvd came in record time, making it here for christmas. The marquee at the apollo advertises duke ellingtons nutcracker suite december 11, 2014 in new york. The nutcracker gets a chance to swing the new york times. Later, in the early 2000s, the tap innovator brenda bufalino created her own tap version. Coarranged by billy strayhorn, this is a remarkable work by the ellington orchestra. This book tells in storyform how duke ellington was inspired to take tchaikovskys nutcracker suite and write it for jazz. Duke ellington has always been a favorite of mine and the story behind this recording is as great as the music. A colorful interpretation of a holiday classic set to the music of duke ellington s the nutcracker suite. Visions of sugar rum cherries tap dance in her head the. Friends university presents 2019 ellingtons nutcracker.
David berger and the sultans of swing, duke ellington, billy. 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. Please discuss this issue on the articles talk page. David berger and the sultans of swing jazz up the holiday season with a sample from duke ellingtons version of the nutcracker suite performed by david berger jazz.
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