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GLASGOW:ROYAL CONCERT HALL

sat 12 June 2010

EDINBURGH:USHER HALL

sun 13 June 2010

JEff TYzIk (conductor) ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

Gershwin Cuban Overture Bernstein Three Dance Episodes from On the Town

Gershwin Three Preludes Gershwin An American in Paris

Interval

Jeff Tyzik New York Cityscape Morton arr. Tyzik Jelly Roll Morton Tribute

Ellington arr. Tyzik Ellington Portrait

Programme £2.00

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PATRON: HER MAJEsTY THE QuEEN

Stéphane DenèveMusic DirecTOr

David Danzmayr assisTanT cOnDucTOr

Neeme JärvicOnDucTOr LaureaTeAlexander LazarevcOnDucTOr eMeriTusWalter WellercOnDucTOr eMeriTus

royal Scottish National orchestra

stéphane Denève became Music Director in september 2005, a partnership which enjoys great acclaim, at home and abroad. For choral performances the Orchestra is joined by the Royal scottish

National Orchestra Chorus, Chorus Director Timothy Dean, one of the most distinguished large symphonic choruses in Britain, and the acclaimed RsNO Junior Chorus, Chorus Director Christopher Bell.

The RsNO performs across scotland, including seasons in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Perth and Inverness. The Orchestra appears regularly at the Edinburgh International Festival and recent appearances in England have included Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, Leeds Town Hall, The sage Gateshead and at the BBC Proms in London. In the last few years, the RsNO has performed in Orkney, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, serbia, spain and Croatia.

The RsNO has a worldwide reputation for the quality of its recordings and has been nominated for eight GRAMMY awards in the last decade. Over 200 releases are available, including the complete symphonies of sibelius (Gibson), Prokofiev (Järvi), Nielsen and Martinu (Thomson). In 2008 the Orchestra renewed its acclaimed partnership with Conductor Laureate Neeme Järvi (with whom the RsNO has made over 65 recordings) with the premiere recording of wagner’s The ring, an Orchestral adventure (arranged by Henk de Vlieger). The RsNO and conductor José serebrier completed their Glazunov symphonic cycle in 2009, having already recorded five of the Russian composer’s symphonies. In 2007 the RsNO made its first recording with Music Director stéphane Denève – the first instalment of a complete cycle of Roussel’s orchestral works – receiving the Diapason d’Or de l’année for symphonic Music. Three more discs in the series have been released in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively, to widespread critical acclaim.

The Royal scottish National Orchestra is one of Europe’s leading symphony orchestras. Formed in 1891 as the scottish Orchestra, the company became the scottish National Orchestra in 1950, and was awarded Royal Patronage in 1991. Throughout its proud history, the Orchestra has played an important part in scotland’s musical life, including performing at the opening ceremony of the scottish Parliament building in 2004. Many renowned conductors have contributed to its success, including walter susskind, sir Alexander Gibson, Bryden Thomson, Conductor Laureate Neeme Järvi, Conductor Emeritus walter weller and Conductor Emeritus Alexander Lazarev.

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The RsNO is committed to introducing young people to live orchestral music through its standard Life Passport to Music project, which enables under sixteen year olds to attend concerts for free (www.passport2music.org.uk). Additionally, the RsNO’s education and community engagement programmes continue to develop musical talent and appreciation in people of all ages throughout scotland. Once a year, the Orchestra embeds itself in a local community for Out and About: a week-long series of concerts, workshops and community projects.

naked classics is the Orchestra’s celebrated series which uses multimedia projections, lighting, a presenter and excerpts by the Orchestra to reveal the stories behind some of the great classical masterpieces.

You can find out lots of information about the RsNO online at www.rsno.org.uk where you can buy tickets, read our blog, find out more about the music and view behind-the-scenes photos, videos and interviews. You can also follow the orchestra on facebook www.rsno.org.uk/facebook and on twitter www.rsno.org.uk/twitter.

The RsNO is one of scotland’s National Performing Companies, supported by the scottish Government.

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Gershwin Cuban OvertureBernstein Three Dance Episodes from On the Town The Great Lover Lonely Town Times square 1944Gershwin Three Preludes (solo clarinet: John Cushing)Gershwin An American in Paris

INTERVAL

Jeff Tyzik New York Cityscape ragtime redux Tango 1932 Traffic Jammin’ african Dance TarantellaMorton (arr. Tyzik) Jelly Roll Morton Tribute Grandpa’s spells Jungle Blues Black Bottom stomp (solo clarinet: John Cushing; solo cornet: Jeff Tyzik; solo trombone: Dávur Juul Magnussen)Ellington (arr. Tyzik) Ellington Portrait caravan sophisticated Lady rockin’ in rhythm Mood indigo The ‘c’ Jam Blues Prelude to a Kiss it Don’t Mean a Thing (if it ain’t Got That swing)

New York, New York!

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American exuberance positively exudes from the works on offer in tonight’s concert. The great melting-pot country has an extraordinarily diverse musical heritage, which coalesced in the early years of the twentieth century to produce that most distinctively American music: Jazz.

George Gerswhin (1898-1937) was a musical prodigy who quickly outgrew the limitations of being a Tin Pan Alley songwriter

in his native New York. His most ambitious stage work was the ‘folk-opera’ Porgy & Bess in 1935, but

George also managed to forge an entirely new style of orchestral

works, fusing Jazz with Modern Classical influences. Before his untimely death in 1937, aged only

38, he had produced a string of American classics, including rhapsody in Blue (1924) and the Cuban Overture (1932). Originally titled rumba, the Overture was the result of a visit to Cuba and is replete with Caribbean rhythms, accentuated by an

expanded percussion section that includes Latin American instruments such as

bongos and maracas.

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) is today best remembered as the composer of one of music theatre’s greatest works, West side story (1957). But Bernstein wrote in many different genres: symphonic, choral, chamber, and opera. steeped in the European Classical tradition he also embraced Jazz, and like Gershwin before him his works often display a brilliant, uniquely American combination of the two. His show On the Town, which tells the story of three sailors on leave for 24 hours in New York, was based on an earlier ballet score, Fancy Free. It first opened in 1944 and was turned into a film in 1949, starring Gene kelly and Frank sinatra. In 1947, Bernstein extracted three instrumental pieces from the show as the Three Dance Episodes, reflecting On the Town’s origins as a ballet. The ‘Dance of the Great Lover’ occurs in the ‘Dream Ballet’ sequence of Act 2; the Pas de Deux is from the ‘Lonely Town Ballet’ in Act 1, while the ‘Times square Ballet’ forms the finale of Act 1. Taken together they are a testament to Bernstein’s rare ability to incorporate fully-fledged symphonic pieces into the score of a musical show.

In the mid-1920s George Gershwin set out to write a series of 24 Preludes for solo piano, but in the end he only completed seven and reduced this number to just five for the first performance in 1927. when the pieces were published later that same year, the number had been reduced to just three: the Preludes in E flat, C sharp, and B flat. But two other chamber pieces published later – entitled short story and sleepless night – are arrangements of the ‘missing’ two Preludes from the first performance. The three published pieces as well as the other unpublished pair have subsequently been arranged by various other hands for different instrumental combinations. Although classical in form these short, jazz and blues-inspired works reveal the composer’s experience as a popular Tin Pan Alley songwriter.

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For most people, the sound of George Gershwin’s An American in Paris is inextricably linked with the sight of Gene kelly dancing to the ballet version which features as the climax of the 1951 MGM movie of the same name. But the music was originally written as a standalone concert piece back in 1928, following a visit the composer made to Paris. when the New York Philharmonic asked Gershwin to write something for them, his memories of wandering around the French capital’s streets inspired him to create a tone poem depicting his impressions of the city. For the first performance, Gershwin had some genuine Parisian taxi horns brought over to enhance the authentic French atmosphere. A brief blues interlude captures the American visitor’s homesickness.

Tonight’s conductor Jeff Tyzik is another American composer with deep roots in Jazz. New York Cityscape is his 2009 tour-de-force suite for brass quintet and

wind ensemble. The piece was originally commissioned and performed by the united forces of Canadian Brass and the Eastman wind Ensemble, the latter based in Tyzik’s home town of Rochester, New York. These concerts are the world premiere performances of the orchestral version. The suite presents a Jazz-inspired tour of the city. New York’s mixed musical heritage appears in ragtime redux and Tango 1932 – two formative elements of Jazz – while the busy intersection that is Times square is depicted in the third movement, Traffic Jammin’. The city’s diverse ethnic heritage, and the music that came with the influx of immigrants, is reflected in the exotic african Dance (subtitled, ‘wall street & East River c. 1709’) and the Italianate Tarantella, inspired by Mulberry street, the heart of the Big Apple’s Little Italy district.

Ferdinand Joseph La Menthe (1885-1941) is hardly a name that trips off the tongue, but thanks to an early stint playing piano in

New York, New York!

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a brothel he acquired the nickname Jelly roll morton and is now hailed as, if not quite the inventor of Jazz, at least the person responsible for melding Ragtime and Blues into an exciting new improvisational style: his Jelly roll Blues, published in 1915, is said to be the first true Jazz composition. Morton’s revolutionary piano playing has left its mark on later generations of jazz musicians, and his recordings helped define the sound we know as Jazz. Jeff Tyzik’s Jelly Roll Morton Tribute fuses three of the legendary pianist’s compositions – Grandpa’s spells (1924) feels like a rag but has a swing beat; the insistent rhythm of Jungle Blues (1927) harks back to the Black-and-white Minstrel tradition; while Black Bottom stomp (1926), with its multiple solo instruments, is classic New Orleans Jazz.

Edward kennedy Ellington (1899-1974), better known as Duke ellington, vies with Jelly Roll Morton as one of the most influential architects of Jazz. Ellington’s 50-plus years as a performer, bandleader and composer left an indelible mark on American music. Among other achievements, he was the first to mould individual jazz musicians into an orchestra – he insisted on calling them an orchestra, not a band – and then compose extended works specifically for that ensemble, pieces that elevated jazz into art music rather than just another style of pop. Jeff Tyzik presents his tribute to the Duke’s legacy in his Ellington Portrait, an orchestral suite of some of Ellington’s best tunes. The first tune, caravan, wasn’t actually composed by Ellington – it was written by his trombonist Juan Tizol – but the Ellington Orchestra first performed it in 1937. Ellington wrote sophisticated Lady as an instrumental in 1932; lyrics were added later to transform the tune into a Jazz standard. written in 1931, rockin’ in rhythm prefigures the later popularity of swing among the big bands of the 1940s. Mood indigo (1930) was inspired by a New Orleans blues riff; it was first performed on the radio under the title ‘Dreamy Blues’, but such was the demand for

CONGRATuLATIONs…ALAN STARksuB-PRINCIPAL PERCussIONThis month Alan stark celebrates his 40th year in the Orchestra. Everyone at the RsNO would like to say congratulations and thank you for all the years of music-making that Alan has been involved in.

repeat playings that lyrics were added and the song renamed. As the title suggests, The ‘c’ Jam Blues (1940) is a semi-improvisational workout for the instrumentalists. Both Prelude to a Kiss (1938) and the famous it Don’t Mean a Thing (if it ain’t Got That swing) (1931) were co-written with Ellington’s regular collaborator Irving Mills – the title of the latter was inspired by one of Ellington’s trumpeters, whose off-the-cuff comment sums up how jazz musicians feel about performing.

© Mark walker

Duke ellington

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CONDuCTOR

Jeff Tyzik has earned a reputation as one of America’s most innovative pops conductors. He is recognised for his brilliant arrangements, original programming, and engaging rapport with audiences of all ages. Tyzik has just completed his sixteenth season as Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He also currently serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Oregon symphony and the Vancouver symphony Orchestra.

In his sixteen years with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Tyzik has developed an incredible relationship with devoted Rochester audiences and written over 160 works for the orchestra. He also regularly appears as a guest conductor in the orchestra’s classical subscription series performing works by some of the greatest American composers to critical acclaim. He has also been commissioned to compose original works including his Trombone Concerto (by the National Endowment of the Arts) and his Timpani Concerto (by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra) which was premiered in January 2010. In May 2007, the Harmonia Mundi label released his recording of works by Gershwin with pianist Jon Nakamatsu and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra which reached No.3 on the Billboard classical chart.

Highly sought after as a guest conductor, Tyzik has recently appeared with orchestras such as the Boston Pops, the Cincinnati Pops, the New York Pops, the Philadelphia Orchestra at the saratoga Performing Arts Center and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to his commitments in Rochester, Oregon and Vancouver, during the 2010/11

season he will appear with orchestras across North America including the Detroit, Milwaukee and Toronto symphony orchestras, as well as the Florida Orchestra, among others. During the summer of 2010, he will return to the Boston Pops and to the saratoga Performing Arts Center to lead the Philadelphia Orchestra. He also leads three programmes with the Dallas symphony at the Vail Festival.

A native of Hyde Park, New York, Tyzik began his life in music at nine years of age, when he first picked up a cornet. He studied both Classical and Jazz music throughout high school, and went on to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Eastman school of Music, where he studied composition/arranging with Radio City Music Hall’s Ray wright and Jazz studies with the great band leader Chuck Mangione, both of whom profoundly impacted him as a musician.

Tyzik spent the next few years working with Mangione, soaking in every part of the music business. He became a skilled record producer, while continuing to be active as a performer and arranger. These experiences led Tyzik to one of the great early opportunities of his career—the chance to co-compose a trumpet concerto with friend and virtuoso trumpeter Allen Vizzutti to be recorded by pops legend Doc severinsen. After that first recording, Tyzik worked closely with severinsen on many projects including orchestrating many of the great band leader’s symphony orchestra programmes, and producing a GRAMMY Award-winning album, The Tonight show Band with Doc severinsen, Vol 1. To this day, he credits severinsen as his greatest musical and professional inspiration.

Jeff Tyzik

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As an accomplished composer and arranger, Tyzik has had his compositions recorded by ensembles including the London symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the summit Brass, and his arrangements have been recorded by groups including Erich kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic, the Vancouver symphony Orchestra, and Doc severinsen with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also produced and composed theme music for many of the major television networks, including ABC, NBC, HBO, and Cinemax, and released six of his own albums on Capitol, Polygram and Amherst Records.

Committed to performing music of all genres, Tyzik has collaborated with such diverse artists as Tony Bennett, Art Garfunkel, Dawn upshaw, Marilyn Horne, Arturo sandoval, The Chieftains, Mark O’Connor, Doc severinsen, John Pizzarelli, Billy Taylor and Lou Rawls, and has created original programmes that include the greatest music from Jazz and Classical to Motown and swing.

Actively sharing his passion for music with others, Tyzik has been recognised for his community service and educational work by Rotary International, the Monroe County Music Educators, and the Rochester Philharmonic League. He is also the recipient of the Arts & Cultural Council of Greater Rochester’s 2002 Performing Artist Award. Tyzik currently serves on the Board of Managers of the Eastman school of Music, and as a board member of the Hochstein school of Music and Dance. He lives in Rochester, New York, with his wife Jill.

For more information about Tyzik, please visit www.jefftyzik.com

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Tonight’s Soloists

John Cushing PriNciPaL cLariNeT

Dávur Juul Magnussen PriNciPaL TromBoNe

John Cushing grew up in Liverpool and began playing the clarinet at the age of thirteen. He was appointed Principal Clarinet with the RsNO in 1978. since then he has appeared as soloist with the Orchestra on many occasions, and has an extensive concerto repertoire, including James Macmillan’s ninian, which was written for and dedicated to him. John made the world premiere recording of the work with the RsNO and Alexander Lazarev, released on the BIs label to great critical acclaim. John has given several other world and scottish premiere performances of works for solo clarinet and chamber ensemble, including pieces by sweeney, Adams, Ted kirk and a piece for clarinet alone by James Macmillan – From Galloway which is also dedicated to him.

John Cushing has a particular interest in chamber and contemporary music and is currently particularly busy in the Phoenix wind trio with katherine Bryan (flute) and David Hubbard (Bassoon) as well as the wind quintet Primi whose players are members of both the RsNO and Halle.

John has taught clarinet at the RsAMD since 1978.

Dávur Juul Magnussen comes from the Faroe Islands, and joined the RsNO in 2008 as its youngest member. He is currently finishing his studies at the Royal scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Classical music is now his main occupation, and alongside his studies, Dávur is involved with a growing amount of solo and chamber music. However, he also has interest and experience in a wide range of musical genres. In the Faroe Islands he was involved in a successful funk/rock band, and he is a member of a Faroese Jazz quintet ‘katla’ whose debut CD is out this summer. He also takes part in an annual concert series in a coastal cave on the Faroes with amazing acoustics, where musicians play completely improvised solo recitals.

Dávur will also be performing shilkret’s jazz-inspired Trombone Concerto (originally written for Tommy Dorsey) with the RsNO in the ‘Postcards from the Americas’ concerts in December (see page 13 for more information).