Suite for Jazz (Variety Stage) Orchestra in Eight Movements

Suite for Jazz (Variety Stage) Orchestra in Eight Movements

The Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra was written during the second half of the 1950s. The composition has eight movements: I. March; II. Dance 1; III. Dance 2; IV. Little Polka; V. Lyric Waltz; VI. Waltz 1; VII. Waltz 2; VIII. Finale.

For a long time the Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra was erroneously identified with Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2, it gained some renown under the name of Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2, and became part of the repertoire of several orchestras and appeared in recordings under this name. However, the real Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2, as the memoir sources and press documents in the wake of its premiere testify, was written in 1938 and consisted of three movements: I. Scherzo, II. Lullaby, and III. Serenade. In 1999, succeeded in finding and attributing the piano drafts of all three movements of this composition. According to these drafts, Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 was revived and orchestrated by English composer Gerard McBurney.

The Suite for Variety Stage Orchestra consists of ballet, incidental, and film music pieces written by Shostakovich during the 1930s-1950s.