Of the five compositions that were recorded for this album, three were specifically commissioned by Mr. Norman Granz for this date. The remaining two, "Django" and "The Queen's Fancy", were older compositions of mine that were specially orchestrated by Mr. Gunther Schuller for this session.
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I am greatly indebted to all the music and musicians I have known for my inspiration for these compositions. The compositions center on and depend on the jazz soloist and they incorporate jazz and classical techniques. "Midsömmer" is an adagio in a general first Rondo form, the chord structure of the second theme being used for the improvisations. The title and inspiration is from the Swedish summer holiday and festival. "Little David's Fugue" is a fugue. The expositions are written while the episodes are improvised on a predetermined chord structure the accompanying instruments participate in the development of intervallic and rhythmic elements of the subject. "The Queen's Fancy" —This piece was written during the weeks of the coronation of H. M. Queen Elizabeth II of England and was inspired by pieces written for Queen Elizabeth the first of England. This piece is an arrangement and orchestration by Gunther Schuller. "Django" also is an arrangement and orchestration by Mr. Schuller. The piece is a memoriam for and is dedicated to the late great French guitarist Django Reinhardt. "Sun Dance" was inspired by dancers. Namely the Hopis of New Mexico and the great Watuse dancers in a film entitled "King Solomon's Mines."
John Lewis (from the original Liner Notes)
The Modern Jazz Society
Presents
A Concert of
Contemporary Music
Tracks
1 Midsömmer 9:02
2 Little David's Fugue 5:37
3 The Queen's Fancy 4:53
4 Django 8:05
5 Sun Dance 3:21
All music composed by John Lewis
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Personnel
[# 1 & 3]
Stan Getz - ts
Anthony Sciacca - cl
James Politis - fl
J.J. Johnson - tb
Manuel Zegler - bsn
Gunther Schuller - fr hrn
Janet Putnam - hrp
Percy Heath - b
Connie Kay - dr
[# 2, 4 & 5]
Same as above, except
Lucky Thompson - ts, replaces Getz
Aaron Sachs - cl, replaces Sciacca
Recorded at Fine Sound Studios, New York ; March 14, 1955