Stravinsky's "Ebony Concerto"

Posted by: mikeeschman on 25 October 2010

For some few months now, I have been making a study of this piece. I was attracted to the poly-rhythmic feel of the music, and the unusual orchestration.

The poly-rhtyhmic feel of this work is the result of combining lines that are syncopated with lines that are not. A simple device in Common Time, using nothing smaller than an eighth note.

I wish I had musical thoughts this refreshing.

Posted on: 27 October 2010 by mudwolf

Talking with a friend he mentioned this and I don't think I'd ever heard it. The other was Gershwin Piano Concerto in F. He thought it much better than Blue. 2 more I need to put on the list. He thought there was great innovation in the Stravinsky and the Concerto in F. to him most others fall flat trying to combine classical with jazz.

John also revealed that he thought the most innovative and classically trained jazz artist was Oscar Peterson. Said he works with wild time signatures and doesn't repeat the same way but inverts themes and details just as the good classical composers. That's another one for an Amoeba run.

Hope all is well down that delta way.