Local Resident Delivers Original Hampton Score to Ben-Gurion University

Home

Archive

Advertise

Contact

Custom Search

Published May 6th, 2015

Local Resident Delivers Original Hampton Score to Ben-Gurion University

Submitted by Andrew Lavin

GU President Prof. Rivka Carmi, left, receives the original score of jazz legend Lionel Hampton's "King David Suite" April 22 from Maurice "Mo" Levich, Lafayette's Generations in Jazz Foundation co-founder and musical director of The Big Band of Rossmoor. Photo provided

The original score of the "King David Suite," composed by jazz legend Lionel Hampton as a tribute to his friend David Ben-Gurion and commemorating the emergence of Israel, was donated to the Ben-Gurion Archives on the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Sede Boqer campus April 22.

The King David Suite, composed by Hampton in the 1953 with orchestration by Big Band of Rossmoor composer and arranger Frank Como, is a "third stream" work combining jazz and classical elements in a symphony that was performed by orchestras in 19 countries. Efforts are under way to perform the work again.

The only score was thought to be lost in a 1997 fire that completely gutted Hampton's New York apartment. It was rediscovered only a few years ago in the possession of Hampton's arranger, Como, with Hampton's original notes and comments.

Como's original King David score was presented to BGU President Rivka Carmi in her office by his band-mate Maurice "Mo" Levich, Lafayette's Generations in Jazz co-founder and musical director of The Big Band of Rossmoor, which performs big band jazz with members ranging in ages from the teens to the high 90s.

"I'm extremely excited and honored on behalf of Frank Como to bring this historic piece of music to the Ben-Gurion Archives where people can see and study it," says Levich. "The music lives on as a survivor of time and fire and we hope that the reformed Lionel Hampton Big Band, featuring vibraphonist Jason Marsalis, will move forward to perform it with symphonies in the future."

To listen to the music and see more pictures, visit www.thebigbandofrossmoor.org.



		print story Before you print this article, please remember that it will remain in our archive for you to visit anytime. download pdf (use the pdf document for best printing results!)
		Comments
		Send your comment to: info@lamorindaweekly.com Reach the reporter at: info@lamorindaweekly.com

		This article was pulished on Page B7:

Quick Links for LamorindaWeekly.com
Home Archive Advertise send artwork to: ads@lamorindaweekly.com Classified ads Lamorinda Service Directory About us and How to Contact us Submit Letter to the Editor Send stories or ideas to: storydesk@lamorindaweekly.com Send sports stories and photos to: sportsdesk@lamorindaweekly.com Subscribe to receive a delivered or mailed copy Subscribe to receive storylinks by email	Content Civic Lafayette Moraga Orinda MOFD Life Sports Schools Business Food Our Homes Letters/Opinions Calendar
Copyright Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA

Tweet !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');

Tweet