A year ago, conductor Jason Weinberger heard Suite for Ma Dukes for the first time. A long time fan of J. Dilla, Weinberger’s first thought when he heard the music was that he needed to find a way to perform Miguel Atwood-Ferugon’s “stunning reinventions of Dilla’s music.” “I’m always looking for ways to open up the traditional orchestra experience to new things anyway, so this seemed very natural.”
After a quick Google search, Jason found Miguel and sent him a message to see if there was anyway to get the Dilla pieces in front of one of the orchestras he worked with. A few months later they met in LA and connected over Dilla, Flying Lotus, and Lutoslawski, and the rest is history.
Earlier this year, Miguel Atwood-Ferugon and the Mochilla Team flew out to Cedar Falls, Iowa to witness J. Dilla’s music being performed as part of the WCFSO’s (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra) tribute to Great American Composers. The evening had Dilla’s music performed alongside legends Duke Ellington and William Grant Still.
“As the person responsible for programming the concert, I probably don’t have to explain how exciting it was for me to find myself performing Dilla’s music with the WCFSO. Even more gratifying, though, were other aspects of the evening – feeling the connections emerge between Dilla and his predecessors William Grant Still and Duke Ellington, taking the orchestra outside of its comfort level and in process to a whole other level of music making, and especially offering our audience the opportunity to abandon preconceptions and discover something special. In the words of one listener in attendance that night, ‘the music was beyond interesting, especially the movements from Suite for Ma Dukes by J. Dilla…’ we were swept along enjoying sound adventures we never could have imagined that we would enjoy.” – Jason Weinberger
Watch as this video takes you on a sound adventure and witness the magic of Dilla’s music performed on what would have been the eve of his 36th birthday to a sold out audience. The standing ovation Miguel received was testament not only to the beauty of his work on Dilla’s music, but the power of music. Sounds ability to open ears, minds, and hearts.
“I think Dilla would have been proud of that.” – Jason Weinberger
PREVIOUS: The Suite For Ma Dukes Orchestra – Angel f. Dwele
This is sooooooooooooooooooooo DOPE!!!!
two thumbs up on the classical arrangement. perfect build up
DIlla fucked my girlfriend back in the day fuck him. I would murder that negga myself with my bare hands
Dope,Ill, HAAWWT
now that’s (2)dope.
damn thats aninteresting audience
damn im pissed i didnt hear about this. i live like an hour away from cf
The Suite For Ma Dukes EP is AMAZING!!! I’ve got the DVD box set on pre-order over at mochilla.com
Hopefully I was one of the first 4,000 to order it so I actually get it, and not a refund.
worldcrysis i would fuck your girlfriend right and then bust a nut in your eye so you get blinded for life
Wow
woah i wanna see the whole thing
“SO UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL”
===========================================
@WorldCrysis ..”You need 2 relax and
take some lessons on giving her a climax”
Something about an Orchestra that really settles the soul… That was a beautiful piece.
Dilla lives on forever.
Dilla!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is what my favorite producer deserves
My_Pops_Son said this on May 18th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
The Suite For Ma Dukes EP is AMAZING!!! I’ve got the DVD box set on pre-order over at mochilla.com
Hopefully I was one of the first 4,000 to order it so I actually get it, and not a refund.
I co-sign to the thousandth power… The Suite For Ma Dukes is truly amazing… I got my Timeless DVD Box set… Hope you get yours though because what you’re about to witness is truly breathtaking… Arthur Verocai, Malatu Astatke and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson really put on a show…
@Queen
Could you teach me how please?
now that’s (2)dope.
ihatedrake said this on May 18th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
what rack is this?
lmaoooo at the dude that got cheated on… you a lame, son
i just got the chills.
dope…
—a dying metaphor—
man i got misty-eyed seeing all those geezers stroll in and applaud dilla’s music. does he have a geriatric fan base after this?
What track is this mannnnnnnnnnn
sounds like “Untitled/Fantastic”
Its actually “Nag Champa” in the beginning and the last bit is ” Untitled/Fantastic”
OKAY IOWA!!!
That def was dope, but it’s corny how ppl are using the word beautiful just because it’s an Orchestra. Just say it’s dope and stop being so artsy. lol. Cant co-sign the bussing in dude’s eye, but I’d def hit the chick if she was dope too. Dont get mad over hoes you idiot. Just get anoter one. I’d be glad if me & dilla hit the same chick. lol. That means to a certain point we got the same taste you beeyotch. What up 2DBz
I mean damn. So fuckin Beautiful. Im glad I took music appreciation. This guy is mad crazy. I would have shared this in my music appreciation class if I knew about it. Damn. I dont even think celebrities even knew about it. Cause I know Kanye Would have went if he knew. I think they didnt want a bunch of thugish mothafuckas scarin the shit out of people. This why cats gotta step they game up and get on they grown man shit every once in a while.
Seein it live would have been amazing. You just don’t get the subtleties and range from a recording like this.
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