Why You'll Love This Concert
Discover how four master composers brought jazz into the concert hall, revolutionizing orchestral music. From Ravel’s French-accented blues to African-American icon William Grant Still’s riveting depiction of “triumph over sorrows through fervent prayer,” this music will uplift your soul. Plus, you'll go ga-ga for Rhapsody in Blue played by renowned French pianist François Dumont.
Did you know?
William Grant Still composed an original piece for the Redlands Symphony. We premiered The Little Song That Wanted to be a Symphony in 1954.
Special Artists
Program Preview
Jacques Ibert
Orchestration
flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, timpani, percussion, piano, harmonium, celesta, strings
Notes
Jacques Ibert prized variety in his music and often gravitated toward the theater. His Suite symphonique: “Paris” (1930) provides an almost cinematic panorama of Paris in the jazz age, from its suburban parks to its urban thoroughfares.
Read MoreMaurice Ravel
Orchestration
solo piano, piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, E-flat clarinet, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, trumpet, trombone, timpani, percussion, harp, strings
Notes
Like Gershwin, Ravel aims for a piano tour-de-force, where the virtuosity of a jazz improvisation and a concerto overlap.
Read MoreWilliam Grant Still
Orchestration
2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion, piano, strings
Notes
As an African American composer, Still was expected to stick mostly to piano music or theatre and band arrangements. There simply was no space in the American imagination for a black modernist.
Read MoreGeorge Gershwin
Orchestration
solo piano, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 2 alto saxophones, tenor saxophone, 3 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, percussion, banjo, strings
Notes
All based on the blues scale and each related to the opening notes of his song “The Man I Love,” the themes of the Rhapsody are still as diverse in character as they are recognizable.
Read MoreOct. 14, 2017: Paris, New York, & Jazz!Ransom invites you to discover how four master composers brought jazz into the concert hall, revolutionizing orchestral music. Learn more about the concert: https://www.redlandssymphony.com/concerts/ransom-wilson-conducts-ravel-and-gershwin-oct-2017
Posted by Redlands Symphony on Monday, June 19, 2017
From the dance hall to the concert hall.
Ibert’s Paris suite captures the bustling excitement of nightlife in the city he called home. From the rhythmic beat propelling crowds through the Metro to the sweet sounds of jazz spilling into the street from a candlelit café, you'll be transported to the vibrant and sometimes gritty experience of the City of Lights.
American energy.
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue has captured the hearts of audiences and critics alike since its premiere in 1924. World-renowned pianist François Dumont will knock your socks off when he teams up with Ransom Wilson and the Redlands Symphony for this fast-paced virtuosic showcase!
French elegance.
When Maurice Ravel encountered jazz, it was love at first sound. His piano concerto blends the toe-tapping rhythms of early jazz with the European refinement that endears Ravel to music lovers everywhere. Who better than Dumont to bring us this masterpiece?
And hopeful optimism.
William Grant Still believed today’s struggles will lead to a better tomorrow when we pursue “triumph over sorrows through fervent prayer.” Darker America draws on the musical traditions of his African-American heritage to proclaim these hopes to audiences around the world.
Fabulous concert! A magnificent pianist with a unique and beautiful interpretation of the performed works.
Directions to Redlands
Redlands is conveniently located less than 30 minutes from Riverside, Loma Linda, Yucaipa, Highland, and Beaumont. From Hemet, it’s just a short jaunt north on CA-79 and West on I-10. It is easily accessible from Los Angeles 60 miles east along Hwy 10. And from San Diego, it’s a beautiful, 2-hour drive north along I-15 and I-215.
Getting ready to attend our concert? View our directions page.
Sponsored By:
Jerry & Brenda Bean
Concert Info
Redlands Symphony 10/14/17 at 08:00pm
Memorial Chapel 1200 E. Colton Ave.Redlands, CA 92373 Get Directions