Pineda, DanielHonors Music History

May 26, 2010Duke Ellington

Dubbed Duke Ellington, Edward Kennedy Ellington is on of music’s most influ-

ential jazz composer of all time. Duke was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington,

D.C. Duke is of African American descent with both of his parent’s being pianists.

His dad being James Ellington and his mom Daisy Kennedy. Probably with some in-

fluence from his parents, Duke started receiving piano lessons in 1906 from Marietta

Clinkscales. His true love though would be with baseball, getting his first job selling

peanuts at baseball games! Since his mom was a civilized and elegant woman,

Duke naturally learned these traits. When he would be around his friends they would

notice his actions and that is how he came to his nickname, Duke.

As he grew older so did his passion for music. He worked as a soda jerker, a

“soda bartender, and would simultaneously compose his first composition, in his �

head. Since he did not have the knowledge to write or read music Duke would just

play his first composition “Soda Fountain Rag.” Even though he did compose his first

piece, he was still not the stereotypic composer pouring hours over scales. It wasn’t

until that he started hearing pianists play did he really grow a love for the piano.

“I would play the ‘Soda Fountain Rag’ as a one-step, two-step, waltz, tango, and fox trot,” Elling-

ton recalled. “Listeners never knew it was the same piece.”(Wikipedia)

As his passion for music grew, he started watching ragtime pianists. Ragtime

is exactly what it sounds, ragged, or syncopated music. If you watch something re-

peatedly then you will start imitating it and it was no different with Ellington. As he

grew older he was influenced by these ragtime pianists. Over time he would under-

stand that he would need a more formal education of music and would seek help of

high school teacher, Henry Lee Grant. He would learn to read music, and therefore

be able to write it.

Over the course of his life he would compose many different pieces of music.

Duke Ellington would become one of the most influential jazz composers to have

lived. It is no coincidence that the jazz genre peaked during the life of Duke Elling-

ton. Unfortunately, Duke would die at the age of 75 from the filling of fluid in the

lungs, or pneumonia.

His Top Ten Pieces of Music1. It Don’t Mean a Thing2. In a Sentimental Mood3. Solitude4. Caravan5. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart6. Do Nothing Till You Hear Me7. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore8. Sophisticated Lady9. I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good10. Perdido(16 Most Requested Songs)

C Jam Blues

Trumpet pieces from Duke Ellington’s “C-Jam Blues”Duke Ellington was a jazz composer. Jazz has more ups and downs than roller coasters at Six Flags. The snippets above show how simple the melody can be at ten measures and how frantic it can get around the 45 measure mark.

Time: This piece of music is written in 4/4 time and has a strong beat to it. The pulse

is strong and you can easily tap to it. The tempo is generally fast and has a certain

swing to it. At times when the saxophone, trombone, clarinet and drum set come in

for their solos the tempo does change slightly.

Melody: C-Jam Blues is definitely lyrical because you will go out of a room humming

to the rhythm. The piece generally moves by skips. When the song begins there is

only a piano but as the song progresses it incorporates different instruments. The

piece does have its staccatos, giving some phrases punches in the song.

Harmony: The music is consonant. The piece is tonal. It is also in a major key, C

major, hence the name C-Jam Blues.

Texture: The piece is generally homophonic. There are places in which there are so-

los that have a monophonic texture.

Dynamics: Throughout the piece the dynamic level is well around the forte level

Tone Color: There is a variety of instruments used in the piece. Piano, bass, saxo-

phone introduce the beginning. The violin then comes in with a solo. The trumpet

gets its solo. Then the tenor saxophone. The trombone follows with its mute. Clar-

inet has a solo as well. To top it all off the drums have a solo as well.

It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)

Time: The piece is written in cut time, doubling the speed of common time, or 4/4

time. The tempo is generally fast. The pulse is strong that you can dance or tap your

foot to.

Melody: It is definitely lyrical and moves mostly by step. Over the course of the piece

the song becomes progressively more alive. You can feel more of a dance at the

end than in the beginning.

Harmony: The music is consonant with it being written in a minor key. The piece is

tonal.

Texture: This piece is generally homophonic. Again with the various solos there is

some monophonic parts.

Dynamics: The song is in the forte range. Some parts get really loud into a fortis-

simo. The range would be from mezzo forte to fortissimo.

Tone Color: This jazz band has its basic instruments. Piano, violin, trumpets, trom-

bone, saxophones, clarinets and bass. The trombone, violin, saxophone and trum-

pet have their own solos.

Duke Ellington has a great influence in music history. He being a jazz com-

poser probably influenced other composers because of all these new elements be-

ing introduced and being shown in such a manner that was both appealing and

somewhat sophisticated. His music is so fun to play and challenging that in the end

you feel accomplished for learning a new phrase or a solo, from his music. I loved

his music having a strong driving rhythm that you just need to play because it is fun

to play. However, his music is not the easiest grasp, needing hours on end to get

that last staccato in place or hitting the note just right to get the sound you want, is

really what Duke’s music is about.

Bibliography-

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Ellington

16 Most Requested Songs - http://www.amazon.com/Most-Requested-Songs-Duke-

Ellington/dp/B0000029JY

C Jam Blues - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOlpcJhNyDI

It Don’t Mean a Thing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDQpZT3GhDg