Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 1 (Shostakovich) explained

The Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 1 (commonly known as Jazz Suite No. 1) by Dmitri Shostakovich was composed in 1934.^[1]

Structure

The suite has three movements:

It is scored for 3 saxophones (soprano, alto and tenor), 2 trumpets, trombone, wood block, snare drum, cymbals, glockenspiel, xylophone, banjo, Hawaiian guitar, piano, violin and double bass. The premiere was on March 24, 1934.^[2] A performance takes about 8 minutes.

Shostakovich used the waltz in his 1935 ballet The Limpid Stream.^[3]

Notable recordings

• Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam conducted by Riccardo Chailly (DECCA)
• National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Theodore Kuchar (Brilliant Classics)
• Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Mariss Jansons (EMI)
• Russian Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Dmitry Yablonsky (Naxos)^[4]

See also

• Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2

External links

• Work details, note by Gerard McBurney
• , Concertgebouw Orchestra, Riccardo Chailly

Notes and References

1. Web site: Jazz Suite No. 1. Dave Kopplin. Hollywood Bowl. On the occasion of the work's first performance by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel in March 2011.
2. Web site: Dmitri Shostakovich: Jazz Suite No. 1. Alex Burns. 22 January 2020. classicalexburns.com.
3. Richard Whitehouse. Shostakovich: Ballet Suits Nos. 1–4. Liner notes. Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Dmitry Yablonsky. Naxos. 8.557208. 2004.
4. https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/shostakovich-jazz-suites-nos-1-and-2 "Lightweight fare from Shostakovich done by a suitably characterful Russian band"