Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony; Ellington: Suite From the "River," "Solitude"

Track Listings

1. Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony: The Bond Of Africa

2. Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony: Hope In The Night

3. Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony: O, le' me shine, shine like a Morning Star!

4. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Spring

5. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Meander

6. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Giggling Rapids

7. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Lake

8. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Vortex

9. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Riba

10. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Village Virgins

11. Ellington: Solitude

12. Ellington: Harlem

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Neeme Järvi, ever the expert architect, has over the years fashioned the Detroit Symphony into a world-class orchestra. Here, they take on two important African American composers, Duke Ellington and William Levi Dawson, whose music only works if the conductor and orchestra know what they're doing. Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony (1934, rev. 1954) is a showpiece for obscure Negro folk melodies framed in standard 19th century Romanticism (mostly influenced by Dvorák, who was himself influenced by American Negro spirituals, as in his famous Ninth Symphony). The showstoppers here, however, are three works by Duke Ellington, with "Harlem" the genuine standout. And talk about musicians knowing their chops: Catch the impossibly high trumpet notes (Walter White and William Lucas) reached at the end. Järvi and the Detroit get everything here absolutely right. Highly recommended. --Paul Cook

Tracks:

Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony: The Bond Of Africa
Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony: Hope In The Night
Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony: O, le' me shine, shine like a Morning Star!
Ellington: Suite From "The River": Spring
Ellington: Suite From "The River": Meander
Ellington: Suite From "The River": Giggling Rapids
Ellington: Suite From "The River": Lake
Ellington: Suite From "The River": Vortex
Ellington: Suite From "The River": Riba
Ellington: Suite From "The River": Village Virgins
Ellington: Solitude
Ellington: Harlem

Amazon.com

Neeme Järvi, ever the expert architect, has over the years fashioned the Detroit Symphony into a world-class orchestra. Here, they take on two important African American composers, Duke Ellington and William Levi Dawson, whose music only works if the conductor and orchestra know what they're doing. Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony (1934, rev. 1954) is a showpiece for obscure Negro folk melodies framed in standard 19th century Romanticism (mostly influenced by Dvorák, who was himself influenced by American Negro spirituals, as in his famous Ninth Symphony). The showstoppers here, however, are three works by Duke Ellington, with "Harlem" the genuine standout. And talk about musicians knowing their chops: Catch the impossibly high trumpet notes (Walter White and William Lucas) reached at the end. Järvi and the Detroit get everything here absolutely right. Highly recommended. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

What a recording!.......2003-09-23

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is at its best here. On this album, they pay tribute to William Levi Dawson and Duke Ellington, with great, intelligent compositions and performances. The "Negro Folk Symphony" is a deep, ear-pleasing performance with great horn work and the strings sound great. However, one of my favorites is Duke Ellington's "The River Suite". I, myself have played this piece and it is just as much fun to play as it is to listen to. My personal favorite movements are "Meander", "Giggling Rapids" and "Vortex". The whole piece is extremely soulful and still well-written. A definite favorite of mine, and it segways into a great performance of another one of Ellington's greatest pieces, "Solitude". However, the real show stopper here is "Harlem", originally written for trumpeter Cootie Williams. This features William Lucas and Walter White, two of the best all-around trumpet players today. They effortlessly extend into the stratosphere and play beautifully through this challenging arrangement. As the review from the critic says, "Talk about musicians knowing their chops!"

Fans of orchestral music and big band music will enjoy this one equally. The DSO is constantly blurring the line between the two styles and this particular outing works wonderfully. It's great to hear an album like this.

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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1. Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony: The Bond Of Africa
2. Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony: Hope In The Night
3. Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony: O, le' me shine, shine like a Morning Star!
4. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Spring
5. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Meander
6. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Giggling Rapids
7. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Lake
8. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Vortex
9. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Riba
10. Ellington: Suite From "The River": Village Virgins
11. Ellington: Solitude
12. Ellington: Harlem