Marsalis: Violin Concerto; Fiddle Dance Suite

Grammy Award winner 2019. Violinist Nicola Benedetti performs two works written especially for her by the great trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis – his first ever compositions for classical violin. The Violin Concerto in D, premiered in 2015, is a four-movement work that explores the common heritage of Benedetti and Marsalis in folk music and dance. The Fiddle Dance Suite is a recent set of five pieces for solo violin. For the concerto, Benedetti is joined by the Philadelphia Orchestra and Cristain Măcelaru.

Featuring

Cristian Măcelaru
Nicola Benedetti
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Wynton Marsalis

Did you know?

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Compositional Technique

The Concerto in D, while scored for symphony orchestra, is written from the perspective of a jazz musician and New Orleans bluesman.

Recording & Production

The recording of the Concerto in D was made possible by the support of Wynton Marsalis's longtime friend and iconic genius Paul Simon.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Wynton Marsalis, the composer, believes that all human beings are connected by the essential fundamentals of life, and that acknowledging pain within a groove can lead to healing.

Composition History

The Concerto in D was commissioned by six different orchestras across four countries, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Composition History

Wynton Marsalis's Concerto in D was written for Nicola Benedetti, the violinist on this album, and is inspired by her life as a traveling performer and educator.

Compositional Technique

Wynton Marsalis's Concerto in D incorporates diverse influences, including Scottish ancestry, the love of Robert Burns by abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and the achievements of Afro-American keyed bugler Francis Johnson.