Andrew Litton and the Dallas Symphony bring a new generation to the wonderful world of classical music in the style of Bernstein's Young People's Concerts.
Delve into the different forms of jazz from Dixieland ("When the Saints Go Marching In") to Latin jazz ("Mambo" from "West Side Story"), with commentary and performances by Billy Taylor and his Trio. They engage the audience in some syncopated hand clapping to understand the rhythmic complexity of jazz. The audience sings America then discovers the key element of jazz—improvisation—as a bassist performs an improvisation on America; then finally they learn how other composers also "play around with the melody" as in jazz, as they listen to Charles Ives' Variations on America. Also includes excerpts from Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue , Joplin's The Entertainer, Taylor's Titoro, Bright Star from the East and Conversations.
27 min. DVD
