NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

11/11/2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-The NSU Jazz Orchestra will present Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's "Nutcracker Suite" Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public. Galindo Rodriguez is the conductor.

Ellington was the most prolific composer of the 20th century in both number of pieces and variety of forms.

"Covering a span of over 50 years of sustained achievement as performer and composer, his artistic development was among the most spectacular in the history of music," said Rodriguez. "The culmination of his artistry can be observed in such masterpieces as "Such Sweet Thunder," "The New Orleans Suites," "The Peter Gynt Suite," "The Best of the Sacred Concerts" and the "Nutcracker Suite."

Rodriguez said that Ellington became familiar with Tchaikovsky's music while on tour in Las Vegas, and soon after made the decision to devote an entire album to arrangements of other composer's work. The suite, being one of his favorite compositional forms, Tchaikovsky's the "Nutcracker" was a natural choice.

"Strayhorn and Ellington began their work by infusing the music from the ballet with rich, varied timbres and complex rhythms of jazz," said Rodriguez. "The alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones replaced the violins and violas. Various waltzes were transformed into medium and up tempo swing while many of those classical themes received a healthy dose of syncopation."

Added to these modifications were numerous opportunities for jazz improvisation by some of the most notable names in the history of jazz: trumpeter Cootie Williams, trombonist Lawrence Brown, baritone saxophonist Harry Carney, and saxophonist Johnny Hodges.

The Nutcracker tells the story of a young girl who dreams that the nutcracker she received as a gift has turned into a handsome prince. It is a fairytale with lyrical and romantic melodies which have transfixed audiences the world over for more than a century. The Suite was composed in 1892 and embodies a wide range of uninhibited emotional expressions characteristic of the Romantic era. Tchaikovsky composed in all musical forms---symphonic works, program music, to ballets. The work is adapted from E. T. A. Hoffman's Christmas tale, the Nutcracker.

The prelude to the "Nutcracker Suite" will be "Boy Meets Horn" featuring Rodriguez on trumpet and "Blue Cellophane" featuring Mel Richey on trombone. Richey, a music education major, will begin student teaching in the spring and is performing her final concert with the Jazz Orchestra.

Richey has been a member of the Jazz Orchestra for four years and has also been a member of the Natchitoches ­ Northwestern Symphony Orchestra and the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band. She has held several leadership positions in Sigma Alpha Iota International Honor Society including vice president and was named to Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

The Jazz Orchestra has been assisted by underwriter The Bandhouse of Shreveport, benefactors Dr. Sam and Linda Ainsworth, Brett Brunson, Dr. and Mrs. Tom Burns, Bro. Michael David Elvestrom, Anne Pinfold and Victor Feske, Dr. and Mrs. Hurst Hall, Dr. Ada D. Jarred, W. T. Kendrick, Cecil and Margaret Myers, Janice Prudhomme, Janette and Neil Ralston and Dr. J. Mark and Ami S. Thompson.

Others helping the Jazz Orchestra include patrons Mr. and Mrs. Bobbie L. Beebe, Andrew Bindursky, James and Shirley Brooks, Dr. Bill and Alice Bryant, Rita Martin, Guillet Photography, James and Retta Poole and F.B. and Joann Ward. Supporters include Carolyn Breedlove, Flo Brouillette, Jo Ann Ford, William Hayne, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Jennings, Dr. Chris Maggio, Shirley Tucker and Waldean K. Shaw.

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