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David Dalle
Thursday February 20th, 2025 with David Dalle
Black History Month: Black, Brown and Beige Part II. The Ironwood Quartet with Yura Lee at the Chamberfest.
"Black, Brown and Beige" was Duke Ellington's most ambitious work when he composed it for his Carnegie Hall debut in January, 1943 (which we heard two weeks ago https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/105/68921.html). Despite the extremely enthusiastic audience, almost all the print criticism was fairly negative afterwards. This seem to have cut Duke deeply. He would never again perform the complete work. He did perform an abridged version, based mainly on the first movement, recorded in 1958, and also performed at Carnegie Hall again in December 1944, which we will hear today.
The complete Black, Brown and Beige is having an extremely rare performance this weekend by the Ottawa Jazz Orchestra at the NAC Fourth Stage. They are performing two shows at 4pm and 8pm.
https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/37020
Black, Brown and Beige i. Work Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944 - Prestige |
Black, Brown and Beige ii. Blues Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944 - Prestige |
Black, Brown and Beige iii. Three Dances: West Indian Dances/Creamy Brown/Emancipation Celebration Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944 - Prestige |
Black, Brown and Beige iv. Come Sunday Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944 - Prestige |
I am joined by violinist and violist Carissa Klopoushak, violinist in the NAC Orchestra, violist in the Ironwood String Quartet, Musical Director for the Ottawa Chamberfest, as well as violinist and violist Yura Lee, principal violist for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. They will be performing tomorrow night at the Dominion-Chalmers 7pm.
https://www.chamberfest.com/event/2024/ironwood-quartet-yura-lee/ (I apologize, the sound quality is not great due to some technical issues). |
Despair not, o Heart Danish String Quartet - Last Leaf - ECM |
Shore Danish String Quartet - Last Leaf - ECM |
Polska from Dorotea Danish String Quartet - Last Leaf - ECM |
AE Romeser Danish String Quartet - Last Leaf - ECM |
The Dromer Danish String Quartet - Last Leaf - ECM |
American pianist Awadagin Pratt will be performing at the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's next concert in March. Wish I was going! He has not had many recordings recently, which is unfortunate, I've read reviews of his performances of the Liszt Sonata in recent years which sound amazing. |
Ballades Op. 10 No. 1 Andante Johannes Brahms/Awadagin Pratt - A Long Way From Normal - EMI |
Ballades Op. 10 No. 2 Andante Johannes Brahms/Awadagin Pratt - A Long Way From Normal - EMI |
Ballades Op. 10 No. 3 Intermezzo. Allegro Johannes Brahms/Awadagin Pratt - A Long Way From Normal - EMI |
Ballades Op. 10 No. 4 Andante con moto Johannes Brahms/Awadagin Pratt - A Long Way From Normal - EMI |
Derrick Skye, whose music we heard last week (and many other times), is Artistic Advisor for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra which has premiered and performed several of his works. We will hear his irrepressible, joyous orchestral piece "Prisms, Cycles, Leaps", which was also performed by the NACO a couple of years ago (one of the season's highlights!) |
Prisms, Cycles, Leaps Derrick Skye/Bridge To Everywhere - Prisms, Cycles, Leaps - Orenda Records |
Dakan Sate, Korotoumi Leon Keita - Leon Keita (Limited Dance Edition No. 16) - Analog Africa |
Mogoya Namian Sidibe - Namian Sidibe - Sahel Sounds |
Duke "Black, Brown and Beige", abridged. (Not "Lite" ;^) Will be cool to compare to the full version! Wish i could get to NAC. But alas... Same goes for Samba Touré, next week @ NAC 4th (now sold out BTW.)
2:23 PM, February 20th, 2025