Rodgers: Slaughter on Tenth Avenue

Richard Rodgers (Composer), Morton Gould (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Composer), Manuel de Falla (Composer), Dmitry Shostakovich (Composer), Aaron Copland (Composer), Alberto Ginastera (Composer), Aram Khachaturian (Composer), Arthur Fiedler (Conductor), Boston Pops Orchestra (Orchestra), Leo Litwin (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leo Litwin
• Orchestra: Boston Pops Orchestra
• Conductor: Arthur Fiedler
• Composer: Richard Rodgers, Morton Gould, Leonard Bernstein, Manuel de Falla, Dmitry Shostakovich, et al.
• Audio CD (May 20, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003G4E
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,052 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #10 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Forms & Genres > Variations
  • #86 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Historical Periods > Modern & 20th Century

Track Listings

1. On Your Toes: Slaughter On Tenth Avenue

2. Interplay: Gavotte

3. Interplay: Blues

4. Fancy Free: Galop

5. Fancy Free: Waltz

6. Fancy Free: Danzon

7. The Three Cornered Hat: The Neighbor's Dance

8. The Three Cornered Hat: The Miller's Dance

9. The Three Cornered Hat: Final Dance

10. The Age Of Gold: Polka

11. Rodeo: Hoedown

12. Estancia: Malambo

13. Gayane: Sabre Dance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, August 28, 1999

By 

"[e-mail]" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rodgers: Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (Audio CD)

A great collection of 20th Century music. Each selection provides a wonderful interpretation of modern music for the dance. Some, such as "The Sabre Dance" and "Hoedown", are well known. Others, such as de Falla's "Three-Cornered Hat" and Bernstein's three exquisite dances from "Fancy Free" deserve a place in every music lover's heart. Richard Rodgers' "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" may be the most exciting music he ever composed. Arthur Fiedler leads the Boston Pops in the defiitive versions of these works. A must-have for any music collection.

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique collection of Dances, March 26, 2000

By 

Merlin L. Miller (Bend, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rodgers: Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (Audio CD)

I first purchased this music in vinyl record form in 1960. At the time, I was looking for a hi-fi version of Slaughter On Tenth Avenue and this recording was the only one available in town.

The title music was all I wanted it to be and it was pure serendipity to also receive the rest of the selections on the record. Some I was familiar with, but the rest have since become some of my favorite music. The fact that I am back getting a CD of the music helps attest to its timeless value. After almost exactly 40 years I am still not tired of it and am looking forward to being able to hear it again in about the clearest form possible. Now I will be able to listen to it in my car as well as at home.

Maybe it will help to know that I think Slaughter On Tenth Avenue is the best piece of American music ever composed.

My tastes run toward music with strong melody lines (such as Greig's music) and all of the selections in this disc meet that criterium.

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a starry, moonlit night in 50's Manhattan...., February 15, 2003

By 

Photoscribe "semi-renaissance man" (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rodgers: Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (Audio CD)

...And this album is the perfect soundtrack to it. In this compilation are the creme de la creme of modern nocturnal classical pieces, with the exception of Khachaturian's Sabre Dance. Here is the anthem of Manhattan itself, "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" by Richard Rodgers, "Gavotte and Blues" by Morton Gould, "Fancy Free: Gallop, Danzon and Waltz" by Bernstein, "The Three Cornered Hat" By De Falla and the "Age of Gold Polka" by Shostakovitch, a piece to help bring up images of an old string-marionette puppet show. However, for some odd reason, "Petrouschka" by Igor Stravinsky and one of the most beautiful melodies you'll ever hear, Gian-Carlo Menotti's "Barcarole from 'Sebastian'" have been left off of this version of the album, to be replaced by the woefully out-of-place, (and totally mediocre,) "Estancia: Malambo" by somebody named Ginastera. This is a bloody shame, for the left out pieces really enhanced the feel of the whole album! The "Waltz" portion of "Rodeo" is missing as well, leaving only the "Hoedown". Still, though, what is left will mentally put you in a cherry paneled den with subdued lighting, in a big red leather easy chair, puffing on the most aromatic pipe you own, (if you smoke,) reading your favorite Raymond Chandler novel. I can't recommend it highly enough! (The album, not smoking!)

By all means, beware of later incarnations of this album which were altered beyond all recognition, with only "Rodeo" and "Fancy Free" left on it, along with the title tune. It is NOT the same album! Somebody at BMG had the good sense to find THIS incarnation in RCA's catalog, which isn't TOO mangled, to represent Fiedler and the Pops at their finest, and market it in lieu of the latter mistake! The original, "Orthophonic" version, which included "Sebastian" and "Petrouschka" (and a better version of "Fancy Free" than this one has,) is, apparently, either still buried in RCA's vaults, or, regrettably, no more....

I often picture Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse traipsing down 1st Ave. to the best music on this album. The "Fancy Free" pieces would have made GREAT title themes for Tim Burton's "Batman " movies. (Okay, Warner's...remember me when you use that idea!)

If you lived through the fifties either as an adult or a child, or if you want to know what nighttime felt like in a good urban neighborhood between 1930 and 1960, GET THIS ALBUM!!