To begin our overview of excellence in orchestral programming by U.S. orchestras, let’s begin with a concert from the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra, Tucker, GA (Group 8) from their 2025-6 season. These are the pieces on the program:
BERNSTEIN, Three Dance Episodes from On The Town
SHAW, Clarinet Concerto
COPLAND, Clarinet Concerto
RACHMANINOFF, Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
This is a stylish and well thought out program of music the orchestra entitled, “Rhythms of a New Era”.
What I particularly like about the choice of pieces, is the inclusion of the brilliant Clarinet concerto by Aaron Copland paired with the concerto by the legendary clarinetist, Artie Shaw, with its super-high C note at the end. I would, personally, have paired the Bernstein excerpts from ON The Town with the Copland suite from The Tender Land as an alternative to the exuberant and much-loved Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances.
These musical selections are a source of extraordinary richness as a means to delve into the influence of Jazz on all forms 20th-Century music and, critically, providing the all-important contextual nuance in establishing the presence and need of a symphony orchestra to bring these piece to life.
Well done DeKalb Symphony Orchestra.