Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker arranged for Brass Septet

by Derek Jacobi, Septura

Overview

The brass septet Septura has put brass ensemble music on the charts at a level not seen for some years, and this version of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, Op. 71, offers an ideal illustration as to why. It's not just the virtuosity of the group, although that's impressive enough. The septet format allows for a striking variety of color as compared with a brass quintet, and the arrangers, trombonist Matthew Knight and trumpeter Simon Cox, put the instrumentalists through considerable challenges in their renderings of the interior lines. The epic battle between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King will give you a taste, and the "Dance of the Reed Flutes" will make you forget that you're not listening to flutes of any kind. If one innovative aspect were not enough, however, Septura also presents The Nutcracker with text narration, written by Knight and adapted directly from the Alexandre Dumas' treatment of E.T.A. Hoffmann's original short story. Knight takes short snatches of text, avoiding the problems that might have come with Tchaikovsky and Petipa's alterations to the story, and produces an action-packed narrative that, if the version were to spread, just might catch the attention of the chorines who dutifully trudge through The Nutcracker every year. A top Christmas release of 2019. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	11/08/2019
Label:	Naxos
UPC:	0747313415779
Rank:	220831

Tracks

1. The Nutcracker~Miniature Overture
2. The Nutcracker~Narration: Now, at the time of this story...
3. The Nutcracker~March
4. The Nutcracker~Narration: The children's joy knew no bounds...
5. The Nutcracker~Children's Galop and Entry of the Parents
6. The Nutcracker~Narration: The Christmas Eve party having assembled...
7. The Nutcracker~Dance (Allegro)
8. The Nutcracker~Narration: Suddenly the children both exclaimed...
9. The Nutcracker~Arrival of Drosselmeyer (Andantino)
10. The Nutcracker~Narration: The children were reassured...
11. The Nutcracker~Cabbage and P¿¿t¿¿ (Andantino)
12. The Nutcracker~Narration: Drosselmeyer smiled...
13. The Nutcracker~Drosselmeyer's Gifts (Allegro molto vivace)
14. The Nutcracker~Narration: To everyone's delight...
15. The Nutcracker~Doll's Waltz (Tempo di valse)
16. The Nutcracker~Narration: Then Drosselmeyer wound up Fritz's soldier...
17. The Nutcracker~Toy Soldier (Presto)
18. The Nutcracker~Narration: Clara and Fritz were delighted...
19. The Nutcracker~Berceuse (Andante)
20. The Nutcracker~Narration: Eventually, unable to stand this commotion...
21. The Nutcracker~Grandfather's Dance (Tempo di Grossvater)
22. The Nutcracker~Narration: The evening wore away...
23. The Nutcracker~The Moonlit Living Room (Allegro giusto)
24. The Nutcracker~Narration: The clock struck midnight...
25. The Nutcracker~The Mice and the Christmas Tree (Pi¿¿ allegro)
26. The Nutcracker~Narration: Clara heard a shot ring out...
27. The Nutcracker~The Battle
28. The Nutcracker~Narration: But Clara could no longer bear to watch...
29. The Nutcracker~A Forest of Fir Trees in Winter
30. The Nutcracker~Narration: The Prince led Clara...
31. The Nutcracker~The Palace of Confituremburg (Allegro brillante)
32. The Nutcracker~Narration: Chocolate began, a little immodestly...
33. The Nutcracker~Chocolate: Spanish Dance
34. The Nutcracker~Narration: Coffee told of the nomadic life...
35. The Nutcracker~Coffee: Arabian Dance
36. The Nutcracker~Narration: Russian candy canes...
37. The Nutcracker~Trepak: Russian Dance
38. The Nutcracker~Narration: Shy Danish shepherdesses...
39. The Nutcracker~Dance of the Mirlitons
40. The Nutcracker~Narration: Suddenly all of the exotic flowers...
41. The Nutcracker~Waltz of the Flowers
42. The Nutcracker~Narration: And then the Sugar Plum Fairy herself...
43. The Nutcracker~Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
44. The Nutcracker~Narration: The Sugar Plum Fairy's Cavalier stepped forward...
45. The Nutcracker~Pas de Deux
46. The Nutcracker~Narration: Finally the Prince knelt on one knee...
47. The Nutcracker~Final Waltz

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Derek Jacobi   Primary Artist
Septura   Primary Artist,Ensemble
Scott Lumsdaine   Percussion

Technical Credits

Phil Rowlands   Producer,Engineer
Jim Unwin   Editing,Producer
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky   Composer
Derek Jacobi   Narrator
Bethany Clarke   Photography
Matthew Knight   Liner Notes,Arranger,Text
Simon Cox   Arranger