Comments on: Rite of Spring for Big Band. Solid.

By: bgn

bgn — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:36:59 +0000

Well, you must admit, a big band arrangement would be more practical for a ballet company than Stravinsky’s original humongous orchestra…

By: Chris Becker

Chris Becker — Sat, 15 May 2010 23:34:10 +0000

I think they both transcended any and all labels (especially “jazz”) that are put upon what is just great music.

By: paul bailey

paul bailey — Sat, 15 May 2010 23:13:30 +0000

of course…

i think it’s safe to say that ellington and stravinsky each made better works in their own art and jazz mediums

By: Chris Becker

Chris Becker — Sat, 15 May 2010 22:38:33 +0000

“…which interestingly enough he was cribbing from Stravinsky.”

And Stravinsky wasn’t “cribbing” anything from jazz? You’ve heard Ebony Concerto, right?

By: paul bailey

paul bailey — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:21:26 +0000

as an arrangement, i’m not sure you add anything by having a ride symbol behind it, it reminds me of the 4/4 arrangement of dave brubek’s “take 5″ and having solos makes it sound more like a parody of one of ellington’s chamber works (which interestingly enough he was cribbing from stravinsky)

on one hand music shouldn’t be painstakingly preserved in an airless glass tomb, but listening to a big band play stravinsky is like watching monty python putting on the coronation of poppea.

it all sounds interesting on paper, but…

By: Steve Layton

Steve Layton — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:48:40 +0000

Interesting point, Mark (though you sound a little like you got up on the wrong side of the bed today…). Just how sacrosant are the composer’s “intentions” anyway, and for how long? Seems there’s a point where other people’s intentions can come into play as well, often to interesting effect. The tradition of re-arranging and even re-styling composers’ works has a pretty long and respected tradition, too. The idea of the composer’s score being “set in stone” is fairly recent.

By: Mark B

Mark B — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:13:38 +0000

What a pointless activity. Stravinksy would be turning in his grave. I’m sure if it was intended for a “big band” he would have arranged it so. More like the “Shite” of Spring

By: Armando Bayolo

Armando Bayolo — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:54:37 +0000

Man, Brian, I am kicking myself for not being able to make this concert. I’ve been meaning to make a Mobtown Modern event for some time but I’m in Baltimore in the mornings, primarily, and don’t stay or head back. Next season I’ll have to come check you guys out. I hope the concert rocked tonight.

By: Steve Layton

Steve Layton — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:17:11 +0000

Of course for a couple other takes on it, there’s Fireworks:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/fireworksmusic04

And the even more daunting version by John Ringer, for basically a power trio:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stravinsky

By: Chris Becker

Chris Becker — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:55:22 +0000

I’ll listen and follow along with my Dover score! That’s a bear of a piece to try and arrange for alternate instrumentation!

P.S. Burnt Sugar has a CD called the Rites with Butch Morris conducting that also uses themes from The Rite to realize a conduction for a large band of electric guitars, strings, piano, turntables, etc.