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

William Levi Dawson (Composer), Duke Ellington (Composer), Neeme Järvi (Conductor), Detroit Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Neeme Jarvi (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Neeme Järvi
• Composer: William Levi Dawson, Duke Ellington
• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chandos
• ASIN: B00005B1DB
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,611 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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

Product Description

108 1/2" Extension

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a recording!, September 22, 2003

By 

JetTone12 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony; Ellington: Suite From the "River," "Solitude" (Audio CD)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars The river, October 1, 2008

By 

Thomas P. Odonnell "TOD" (San Jose, Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony; Ellington: Suite From the "River," "Solitude" (Audio CD)

We just heard the River at the Silicon Valley Symphony, it was wonderful. Tom O