Feb. 9, 1971 with the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and the Northern Arizona University Jazz Band, conducted by Thomas Kirshbaum.
Originally commissioned by Zubin Mehta and The Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1967. This present recording was the only other performance of the piece. (I contacted the LA Phil to see if they had a recording of the world premiere. For some reason, they had the rest of the program recorded but not the Ellis piece. Strange.) It should probably be mentioned that the two orchestras are one traditional symphony orchestra and one jazz orchestra, or big band.
Here's what Don wrote for the initial program:
"As implied by the title, the work contrasts the two orchestras and trumpet, one against the other, pointing up similarities as well as differences. It falls roughly into five basic sections: The first section features the strings and trumpet and is based on the main theme, a slow romantic mood. The theme appears both in 9/8 (divided 2322) and in 13/8 (divided 232222). The second section uses predominantly woodwinds and is based upon the second theme (the "swing" theme). It is in 7/4, and while it is basically 7 to the bar, it "sort of" falls into a 223 subdivision--though not always. Section three begins rather violently and features the keyboard instruments from each orchestra. It gradually subsides over an ostinato introduced by the amplified sitar, which is in 45/8, divided into one bar of 5/8 (221), one of 7/8 (2221), 15/8 (2231223), and two bars of 9/8 2221, and 2223). A trumpet solo, amplified and sent through an electronic echo chamber, leads into section four, which has variations on the second theme and features the brass sections of both orchestras and solo trumpet. It starts in 7/4 (223) but is transformed into 13/4 (223222). The percussion sections are then featured and, after a final brass coda, section five begins with a rather pastoral quality. It gradually swells as theme one returns and the piece ends with all the instruments of both orchestras finally playing together."
Негізгі бет Contrasts for Two Orchestras and Trumpet - Don Ellis
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