https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4 One of Ellington's original, "Rainy Nights" is the first piece I decided to listen to. From the instruments, the jazzy feeling is delivered to the audience. The prolonged notes are also included as there are short notes that makes the piece more enjoyable too. There is a bouncy feeling throughout the song, and there is a solo given to the trumpet in the middle which is more impactful. The performance is said to be fit in the New York manner as Ellington made this between 1924 and 1926. After listening to the whole piece I realized that the piece had a sudden ending/ stop without any warning, which I thought was interesting. Usually there is a gradual diminuendo, however, in this piece it is different, giving it a unique and upbeat vibe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCylUgJE1kM "If You Can't Hold the Man You Love" was in the 99 hits and is why I decided to make this my second choice. In this piece, there is a trumpet duet with a rhythmic figure. I really liked the singing in this piece as it is different what we usually listen to in 2021. The trumpet really brought out the melody which sounded like a stuttering sound. There are variety of trumpet playing style included all in one song. This piece is extremely upbeat and addictive as it makes your head bop when the trumpet duet starts playing. I personally enjoyed listening to this song as it was very enjoyable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4fP4cGo6sc "Black Beauty" performed by Duke Ellington is my final choice for this list. I first of all chose this because of the title. After listening to the intro of the song, I noticed it was very different from my previous two which was upbeat. In this piece, it had a solemn start as it slowly starts to increase in volume and speed. The sound of the piano and the drum in the background was what had the piece together, I think. Very different from Duke Ellington's usual style, it includes the piano. However, the trumpet does make its appearance towards the middle of the song. This piece was steady, which is one reason why I liked it.
I decided to unpack “If You Can’t Hold the Man You Love” in a new way after watching the video and reading the article. His jazz composition was something that no one could reach for as his knowledge of harmony was outstanding. I chose this song again because of the trumpet duet he portrayed in this song. He is great at working in groups because he knows the color of each instrument. For example, when he performed with the orchestra, he knew the orchestra so well. He is well aware of his surroundings, not just only his part. With self teaching himself, he came a far way and proved that he is a great musician himself. Becoming a part of Harlem Renaissance, he performed for both African- American and white audiences even in the segregated society of the day.
“Soda Fountain Rag”-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYTI4eCBVFg “Soda Fountain Rag”, one of Ellington’s first pieces, has got that telltale ragtime swing of hte 1920’s. However, something about it sounds more classical and smooth than the other ragtime songs I’d heard before: maybe it’s the grainy audio since it was recorded in 1914. It’s hard to believe that Ellington wrote and recorded the piece when he was in his teens because of how professional it sounds; the way the notes rapidly flow into each other like the soda churning in a soda machine will make almost anyone want to tap their foot to the beat.
“Rainy Nights”-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYTI4eCBVFg This piece sounds exactly like something that would play in an old 1940’s nook on a rainy evening with the fast paced yet sleepy rhythm. The grainy background noise from the vinyl recording only adds to the effect by really adding an old-timey vibe to the music. I’ve noticed that Duke Ellington’s pieces are a bit more organized than that of traditional jazz music where there’s lots of improv, most likely due to the fact that he composed a lot of his songs. The instrumentals in this song sort of blend in and create a kind of haze that soothes the soul of anyone listening.
“Black and Tan Fantasy”-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN3_c1OnA3s The tone of this piece is quite somber, with the long drawn minor notes of the trumpets and marching beat. The title of the song, “Black and Tan Fantasy” paired with the wailing trumpets and beat possibly reflects the experience of black folks during this time period as Jim Crow laws were at their peak around this time. I’d imagine hearing this melancholy song playing out of an apartment window on a humid, muggy night as the person living in the apartment looks out over the city and pensively smokes a cigarette
“Black and Tan Fantasy” was actually a piece written about the hot and steamy atmosphere of the “Black and Tan” nightclubs in all around the area, thus renedering the slow pace and marching beat of the song more fitting. He most likely wrote the music off of watching the actions and mannerisms of those in the clubs and then translated that into a melody and beat. Itʻs clear to see that he carefully wrote his score with the individual instrumental aspects in mind, with the wailing trumpets and piano riffs merging together into a slew of notes. According to the documentary, the reference that Ellington made to Chopinʻs Funeral March was a testament to the reality of life that nothing good lasts forever.
https://youtu.be/qegkkI0ZsFI “Choo Choo” by Duke Ellington is one of his first successful recording of his train songs. In the beginning, the slow tempo of the instruments were then transitioned into the a faster tempo. A lower note would then be followed up by a higher note. There is a lot of repetition of the same notes throughout the song. This is referred to a train song because of the train like noises that are exemplified in this song.There is a whistle-like sound that ends the song.
https://youtu.be/o60EeEXbxHs “Creole Love Call” by Duke Ellington begins with a slow quarry of instruments with a background singer singing calls out. A trumpet solo and a clarinet solo is played. This song sets a mellow mood that would have the ability to calm a person down. Towards the end, Adelaide Hall offers her wordless singing, which adds a uniqueness to this blues song. Instead of it just being instrumental, the singing offers the listeners something more.
https://youtu.be/7atwjmPcxng “Jubilee Stomp” by Duke Ellington is an orchestra piece that shows Ellington’s ability to compose beautiful music. It begins with a slow opening then immediately becoming fast paced. It is an instrumentation of multiple horns with a rhythmic section. This is a song that exemplifies what jazz music truly was about. The upbeat tempo makes you want to dance right with along to it.
The song, “Creole Love Call” by Duke Ellington, is an orchestrated piece along with the wordless vocals of Adelaide Hall. Ellington uses her vocals as a new instrument for his orchestra. In class, we discussed upon the topics of how African Americans during that time were looked down upon in the community. A stereotype was created where African Americans were inferior in every way compared with the rest of the community. Ellington wanted to prove that these stereotypes were wrong. With the intricate melody and the difficulty of the song, Ellington was able to show that African Americans were intelligent because they were able to play these types of songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7atwjmPcxng “Jubilee Stomp” feels like what I imagine a dance club in the 1920’s feels like. It’s fast and in your face, the trumpets are loud and the melody swings from one note to another like a dancer’s legs, and it’s got a perfect slow opening just long enough for someone to get out of their seat and onto the dance floor. One could also easily imagine that the brass instruments are their own singers, each having a conversation with another. The beats and overlap between them mimic the cacophony of conversations you hear in a crowded bar between your own dialogue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTD9-Qv3bs “Harlem Flat Blues” starts immediately with a trumpet note so startling I nearly jumped first listening to it. After that, the song mellows out, the notes are spaced far apart and the tempo is consistent, though in typical jazz-ish fashion, the trumpets are not synched completely to the beat. One of my favorite parts is in the middle where the trombone sound gets garbled and it almost sounds like someone speaking. It’s sort of like when the adults speak in Charlie Brown, which were in fact actually just trombone noises, where it’s a vague approximation of what it sounds like when you hear something but you done really listen to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myRc-3oF1d0 This recording of “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing” is a collaboration between Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. The lyrics aren’t anything particularly interesting, there are really only about 10 different lines in the whole song, but that just allows you to focus on Fitzgerald’s beautiful voice and the captivating melody. The scat break every other line in conjunction with the fast paced piano feels like you’re running, not to anywhere in particular, but just running as fast as you can just to feel something.
“Jubilee Stomp” is a reflection on the life of African-Americans at the time, specifically the happier moments, told through the perspective of a dancing song. It includes overlapping melodies and fast rythms, reminiscent of the discord Ellington said was present in everyday life in Harlem. Yet, the Ellington embraces the chaos and shows it’s beauty to the people he played to, specifically to the white patrons at the Cotton Club. Not only is it a reflection of African-American life in general, but it could be said that it’s a reflection of the band he played in. Ellington knew that a trumpet wasn’t a trumpet, it was it’s own individual that was different depending on who was playing. The cacophony of brass instruments makes up a conversation like section, almost as if they are really talking to each other, which could very well be what Ellington was going for.
https://youtu.be/GohBkHaHap8 “Mood Indigo” showcases the talent of the individuals who make up Duke Ellington’s band. The slow, dragging beat of “Mood Indigo” is consistent throughout most of the song. Each player highlighted in the song plays beautifully with the expression of individuality but cohesiveness with the song as a whole. The dissonance in the song is a nice touch by Ellington. In the nicest way possible, “Mood Indigo” sounds like a song that one would hear in the elevator.
https://youtu.be/2f6GMM6gxV4 Ellington’s 1924 hit, “Rainy Nights,” has less complexity in terms of the amount of instruments in comparison to “Mood Indigo.” The rhythm of the song sounds more like the “chug” of a train. Ellington’s composing skills are shown profoundly in this song; the mixing of instruments and the timing in which the instruments play is skillfully put together. I’m not too sure if the static in the song was put there purposely or if it is a defect in translation but the static helps with creating the tone of listening to this song when it’s raining.
https://youtu.be/qDQpZT3GhDg “It Don’t Mean A Thing” is the only song of the three that I listened to that has lyrics. That being said, the vocals make this song distinguished from the other two. The foot-tapping rhythm also helps to make this song more distinguishable. Another factor is the use of string instruments which aren’t seen in “Mood Indigo” and “Rainy Nights.” This song captures the band’s entirety as well as Ellington’s ear for good, quality music.
The way that this song is played highlights the specific skills of each player. Ellington’s mixing of the instruments, how they are played, the timing, and solo performances all help to make this song so different from the others. Another notable thing is the way that the musicians present themselves: they dress in nice suits/tuxedos, are clean shaven, and they look proud of what they are doing. These are elements of “The New Negro.” The performance of “It Don’t Mean A Thing” makes African Americans look respectable and prestigious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4 The first song I listened to is “Rainy Nights.” In the song, it is all instrumental. The tune itself is quite entertaining as it is upbeat. There is an effect, which I’m not sure it was the video or the actual recording itself, but it sounds very static. It almost gives that “rain” feeling as if the rain was hitting the ground. The song’s melody is very memorable as it is mostly one note being played the entire time. The instrumental of the song gives off that jazz feeling and what jazz music is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tS-ENcYqpw “Breakfast Dance” is a song you would think is something that would be played while eating breakfast, hence the title. Honestly, I think this song could be played whenever and wherever. This tune is very upbeat and a perfect song to dance to. Some parts of the tune reminds of like a 1950s theme song as they share the same melody or were inspired by it. I can picture this song being played at a diner more than a speakeasy since the music itself is very upbeat and uplifting too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-HS7V-3STs The last song I listened to was “Jump for Joy.” Unlike the other two songs, there are some vocals in this song. The vocalist in the song is not Ellington himself as it is a woman singing. This song seems to fit perfect for a movie-musical and it has the components for one: the catchy tune, the lyrics, and the overall theme of happiness. Though the vocals aren’t consistent throughout the song as it transitions to an instrumental part, I think having vocals part of the song is a great addition as it is something different. The song is very catchy and makes me happy when I listen to it. The song doesn’t end abruptly but has a solid ending to it.
After watching the film and reflecting on what we learned today, “Breakfast Dance” is the type of song that could have a hidden meaning. Even though it is instrumental, I think that the context goes back to the “new negro.” When learning about the “new negro,” black people were the advertisements for white products. There was one ad that we saw in class today reflecting back on breakfast and I thought about maybe this song is some sort of advertisement. The instruments being played in the song are what Ellington usually plays and it is an upbeat song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myRc-3oF1d0 It Don’t Mean A Thing (If it Ain’t Got Swing) is with both Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. In the video that I watched, Fitzgerald is the one singing and Ellington is playing the piano. The song is very upbeat and catchy while it seems like the same lyrics are mainly repeated. There’s nothing too special about the lyrics but I thought that it was interesting how the lyrics have a lot of “doo wah.” I think that it was more common back then, but in music now you never hear something like that as the lyrics. The fast pace of the song really adds to it and while there aren’t many lyrics, there was a wonderful solo part in the middle where Ellington played the piano. Together, Fitzgerald and Ellington created a great song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrytKuC3Z_o In “Satin Doll,” the video that I watched includes Duke Ellington as well as his whole orchestra. While Ellington was great on the piano, I also really liked the orchestra in the song. I thought that they really added to the song and they compliment Ellington’s piano playing. The song starts off pretty slow and at some parts there’s some build up and then it’ll go back to being slow. Sometimes you hear more of the orchestra, while others it’s mainly Ellington. This song has no lyrics but I think that Ellington and his orchestra alone make it a really great song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkLBSLxo5LE “Caravan” starts off with an almost mischievous tone. The beginning has a few different instruments playing and they are all played in a pretty low note. The song slowly gets more upbeat and more instruments join in to the song. Throughout it has a really nice beat and certain instruments throughout are heard. This song also doesn’t have any lyrics but it does have a lot of different instruments heard throughout the song. Each of the different instruments contribute to the unique sound of the song and in the end, it ends off with a loud horn and the crash of a symbol.
After watching the film and today’s class, I think that Duke Ellington’s song “Satin Doll” has a deeper meaning. Even though this song is only instrumentals, the film talked about how Ellington thought that music was about breaking down barriers and bringing everyone together. In the song, Ellington has different harmonies that are supposed to represent the difference between masculinity and femininity. He liked to work in different themes and messages into his songs even if it was only instrumentals. The film also talked about “jumble music” and I think that this is one of those pieces in that it had a lot of different harmonies and sounds to make up the piece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsO09U5u_Ws The first song I listened to was “Daybreak Express.” This song is clearly portraying a scene on a train, you can tell by the constant whistle blowing, moving of gears and fast pace tempo. “Daybreak Express” was mostly made up of train sound effects and a trumpet. This song kind of reminded me of the “Hot Coco” scene in Polar Express because of the excitement, and fun vibes of the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaq9Gx9GT5E The second song I listened to was “Mood Indigo,” this song was very different compared to “Daybreak Express.” This was because this was a much slower, and calmer tune. While “Daybreak Express” was only instrumentals and sound effects, “Mood Indigo,” featured a saxophone and included vocals. I really enjoyed this song, especially the vocals, she had a really soft and smooth tone to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqUfuW6kZnY In my opinion “The Blues with a Feeling” was sort of like a combination of “Daybreak Express” and “Mood Indigo,” it was a faster paced jazz song but it also included a lot of the same qualities of a slow jazz song. I really like the raspy voice of singer of this song because his voice gave me a very calming sense.
After todays class, my perspective of the song “Daybreak Express” has defiantly changed. After learning about Duke Ellington and how he affected jazz music in America is clearly seen in this song. As this song matches with the idea of “Jungle Jazz.” The fast pace of the song and the quick tempo makes this a great song to dance to specifically swing dancing, which was really popular at this time. I also think that the sound effects of the whistle and trains also tie in with the “Jungle Jazz” vibe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4 The first song that I listened to was “Rainy Nights”. When I compared it to Louis Armstrong’s song it was a partly different but I thought there was a lot of similarities, in the sounds. But I thought there was simularities in the brassy tones and raspy tunes and kind of like a voice which Armstrong did. I thought that Armstrong’s style had. a huge influence on Ellington.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTD9-Qv3bs The next song I listen to was “Harlem Flat Blues”. Personally I thought that the song had a crazy amount of artistry and sound that he was able to produced sounded exactly like a blues melody, followed in the background was a harsh background piano which mimicked stomping throughout the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f51veCHdEyc Lastly, I listen to “ The Blues With a Feelin'”. I thought that this song was very similar to other songs. It had the same raspy tones and I really liked this song. Like I already said it had such a raspy tune to it and such a background with replies that we have seen in other jazz song. I actually really like the song compared to the other songs, probably because the song felt more up beat and fun.
I listened back on “Harlem Flat Blues”. In class we reviewed Ellington, I noticed that I it did have the characteristics of more of an exotic music and felt more of the Jungle music name which it was given. I thought that when closely listening to it, it did strike me about all the instruments that were being used during the song. Like soloist had the raspy tune and followed by a sweet tune following it like someone having a strong statement and then followed by an agreement. I can agree with myself from before that the harsh kind of piano stomping was like the background beat and I thought that it gave more of like a blues melody to it. Overall it gave me a lot more appreciation for the song the second time around and I was able to develop my ideas more clearly.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r3vTpA4m1nM Released by Ellington and His Cotton Club Orchestra in 1929, “Flaming Youth” is lively without being unrestrained. A simple piano and snare progression sets an energetic but steady pulse for the song. Trumpet lines take the melody, which sounds almost entirely improvised. The trumpets so effectively mimic human voices in the way they sway to the music, that I thought there was vocal work at first. Each instrument drifts along in this composition, painting a more laid-back and enduring picture of youth.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EOT9RW2OHJk “Wall Street Wail” begins with multiple melodic voices on the trumpet and saxophone, as well as a much subtler backing beat than “Flaming Youth.” The saxophone player adeptly dances up and down scales, creating the impression that this instrument is wailing, like the title suggests. However, the sax cuts in and out of the piece, and in its absence, the trumpets play around with both major and minor progressions. “Wall Street Wail” is playful and fun to listen to, demonstrating Duke Ellington’s impressive musicianship.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tS-ENcYqpw “Breakfast Dance” again incorporates multiple trumpets that together weave in and out of melodic riffs. However, there is clearly a main trumpet line in this piece that plays most prominently above the others. This part is probably performed by Ellington, and it reflects his keen ear for listening and responding to the direction the accompaniment is taking. “Breakfast Dance” sounds like a few different styles of music at once but maintains the unique voicing of Ellington’s jazz.
The first song I listened to was “Satin Doll.” This song starts with a piano by itself. It then goes on to add a multitude of instruments such as trumpets. The overall sound of the song is calm and serene, like satin as the title suggests. There are some points in the song where the trumpets play louder and at other times the piano is the star of the song. I liked listening to it. It felt like the way rain feels hitting your skin.
The second song I listened to was “Mood Indigo.” This one started off a little odd with some clashing notes on the piano. It then went on to sound like ballroom music with a slow beat and a soft trumpet playing as an accent. The singers voice was smooth like warm honey and she sang of not knowing what being “blue” felt like until you feel “indigo” which I assume is a stronger and sadder feeling than regular blue. Although this is a sad song, its very pleasing to listen to.
The last song i listened to was the “Creole Love Call.” This song starts off with a piano solo that seems a bit chaotic. It then goes on to have a soothing tune with the rest of the orchestra. The trumpet is the “singer” in this song and it plays by itself on its on melody line for much of the song. The piano does come back again in strange clashing tangents but the trumpet is the star of the show. At the end theres a more ominous sound from one of the instruments that confused me a bit, but the beautiful thing about having no words is that you get to determine the words in the music that speak to you.
The song “Creole Love Call” has gained new meaning after watching the film section on Ellington. Seeing the dancers who would accompany the music and understating the idea of the sexuality and erotic nature of this “jungle” jazz music makes this song more of an exciting piece. The sound of the orchestra is fluid and engaging but also welcoming, the way Ellington’s personality was. The end of the song is also more explained. It confused me at first why such a happy song had a strangely sad and somber ending, but it was explained in the film that sometimes he would have songs end that way to show that nothing good lasts forever and that perfectly explains the ending.
I listened to “Choo Choo” by Duke Ellington. Being one of his most popular records, I expected a lot. Like Louis Armstrong’s songs, the song starts with a mellow and slow instrumental. It then transitions to a faster beat. The notes from high to low transition back and forth which I didn’t usually expect to hear. I learned that this song is a “train song” because of the sounds of a train going over tracks. This creates a story and a very fun song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4fP4cGo6sc
“Black Beauty” by Duke Ellington is a beautifully titled and beautifully written song. Unlike the last song of Duke Ellington, I found the song to keep the same mellow and relatively slower tempo. There’s a little crescendo in the beginning which happens a lot but is less significant than his other songs. I also noticed the difference in the instruments. There’s a noticeable piano and less of his trumpet throughout the song. Overall, the tone was beautiful and calm, not what I expected from Duke Ellington.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiuzOytFYfo
Listening to and watching “Jubilee Stomp” by Duke Ellington, I didn’t realize how much elects played into his songs. This particular video was titled Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra. There were drums, trumpets, trombones, guitars, saxophone, and Duke Ellington on the piano. It’s a high tempo song that’s filled with note slides and shifts in attitude with each musician. Like his most songs, this song also started with a slower opening which almost prepares the audience or people at the club to get ready for this wild show of Duke Ellington
I have learned a deeper understanding for the song “Jubilee Stomp”. As Duke talks about his people, he makes it clear that he loves “the people”. In this song his Cotton Club Orchestra is featured in it. It shows how unselfish Duke Ellington was and how each person that’s part of the “the people” shine greatly. With each musician is each personality and important role which creates masterpieces like this song. The film goes over how there’s no strict script in his music. He trusts in his orchestra members and it just seems to flow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4 “Rainy Nights” By Duke Ellington has a kind of chaotic beginning but with a steady beat. It almost sounds like the beat is like the rain pellets falling down and then there’s the wind instruments that are singing in the rain. Overall I feel like this song has a happy tune to it and it’s a song meant for dancing in the rain. This is a great song to play when it’s pouring rain outside, that could possibly convince the listener to go playing in the rain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjRAa5KFmKU “I Got it Bad and That Ain’t good” is a slow song about a man who is in love. It starts off with the string instruments playing a slow melody with the wind instruments to back them up, with the piano as its base. The song is very slow throughout the song, almost like singing in a dream, like a lullaby. Even though this love song is about someone not wanting to be so deep in love but is, it’s a very sweet and calming song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNwpqNRhvY “Choo Choo” starts off with the trumpets and other wind instruments. It has a fast pace to it with the wind instruments having a few riffs along the way. The beat is very fast paced, kind of like riding on a train off somewhere fun. I thought it was nice that most of the instruments got a moment to shine in this song, each playing their own songs in this song. The solos were so unique it almost sounded like there were words coming out of the instruments singing the song.
I think the song “Choo Choo,” really represents how Duke is as a musician. Duke was able to make music that was about the people he grew up around and the people he represents. He was able to change peoples views on them instead of being dependent Duke was the exact opposite. He made a name for himself without much help of others, if anything others came to listen and learn from him. Duke was also able to bring out the best in every musician he worked with because he was able to read them. Which is why I think “Choo Choo” is a good representation of Duke and his music. This song is an original made by him and in this song he gave his musicians opportunities to stand out and do their thing. The way each instrument had their solo worked really well with the song. All Duke wanted was the world to see his art and to break the stereotypes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNwpqNRhvY The first song I listened to was “Choo Choo”. This song was a good example of the originality of Duke Ellington’s music and his ability to create unique sounds with his band. I enjoyed the brass and trumpets parts which blended really well together. This song had a New Orleans feel but in a different period than we studied before. The fast pace of the song reflects how life must have felt like living at this time with everything constantly changing around your and the sounds of a train in the song reflect that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GohBkHaHap8 “Mood Indigo” was a piece which showcased the skill of each of the members of Duke’s band. There were solos for the piano, trumpet, clarinet, as well as for sax and trombone. I could see how Duke composed his music to suit his band members as the band seemed to be completely in synch at all times while producing extraordinary sounds. This song had a moody and improvisational feel, it gave me feelings of a group of people taking turns telling stories with their instruments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myRc-3oF1d0 “It don’t mean a thing (if it ain’t got that swing)” is a song that defines swing music from its rhythm to its lyrics which consist of scatting and only a handful of actual lyrics. Ella Fitzgerald is the one singing this song and her amazing voice add to the song significantly. There is also a solo piano part played by Duke himself in which he plays at a fast pace unusual to most piano parts. I liked this song because of the infectious rhythm and groovy feel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNwpqNRhvY The first song I listened to was “Choo Choo”. This song was a good example of the originality of Duke Ellington’s music and his ability to create unique sounds with his band. I enjoyed the brass and trumpets parts which blended really well together. This song had a New Orleans feel but in a different period than we studied before. The fast pace of the song reflects how life must have felt like living at this time with everything constantly changing around your and the sounds of a train in the song reflect that. This is a good example of Duke using unorthodox methods in his music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GohBkHaHap8 “Mood Indigo” was a piece which showcased the skill of each of the members of Duke’s band. There were solos for the piano, trumpet, clarinet, as well as for sax and trombone. I could see how Duke composed his music to suit his band members as the band seemed to be completely in synch at all times while producing extraordinary sounds. This song had a moody and improvisational feel, it gave me feelings of a group of people taking turns telling stories with their instruments. I could feel how Duke was trying to express the emotions of the people with this song and particularly the struggles of being black in America. Just like many other of his songs, Duke conveys emotion with extreme success in his songs so much so that the emotion of the song is hard to ignore. This gives the listeners an emotional connection with the music which contributed to his major success.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myRc-3oF1d0 “It don’t mean a thing (if it ain’t got that swing)” is a song that defines swing music from its rhythm to its lyrics which consist of scatting and only a handful of actual lyrics. Ella Fitzgerald is the one singing this song and her amazing voice add to the song significantly. There is also a solo piano part played by Duke himself in which he plays at a fast pace unusual to most piano parts. I liked this song because of the infectious rhythm and groovy feel. Unlike a lot of his other songs, this has an upbeat tempo and it feels as if the music is running with the instruments trying to catch up. It’s amazing to me how Duke compartmentalizes all of the different parts of the band and puts them together to form a coherent sound. This is a song you can’t help but tap your foot to.
Duke Ellington https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsO09U5u_Ws The first song I chose to listen to by Duke Ellington was “Daybreak Express.” The beginning was very interesting. The music got more intense and louder as it began. The instruments were drums and trumpets. There was a train whistle which queued in some more instruments. I would say that this is a very interesting way to open a song and it would definitely catch an audience’s attention. It sounds a little hectic. There is a lot going on in the background. There is no singing. This song is strictly instrumental. The blend of instruments and sounds coming together sounds a bit crazy. It makes you jump almost. The ending doesn’t match the tune/mood of the rest of the song. It is calming and brings you to relax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYTI4eCBVFg The second song I chose to listen to was “Soda Fountain Rag.” The beginning of this song is played on the piano. It is being played at a fast pace and makes the song feel playful and upbeat. It is also being played in a higher key which adds to that effect. I think that this is strictly a piano piece. It is very contrasting to the other one which sounded like it had more than 10 instruments going all at once. It was a very short song and since it was being played so fast I felt like I missed the entire thing. It seems to me that Duke Ellington has a range of themes in the jazz genre that he can do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTD9-Qv3bs The last song I wanted to listen to was “Harlem Flat Blues.” I am pretty sure that the beginning of this song is being played on a trumpet/multiple trumpets. There is a steady pace in the song. This song feels relaxing and calming to listen to. There’s an instrument that sounds raspy almost as if it could be a form of Louis Armstrong’s. This song is also strictly instrumental. It is very different compared to other jazz songs that I have heard of. I am not too much of a fan of it. The solo of an instrument near the end sounds funny to me. I like the harmonization of the instruments as the song nears to an end though.
Duke Ellington’s “Daybreak Express” was very interesting for me to hear. The first time I heard it I think I was a bit overwhelmed because I had never heard anything like that type of music before. However, after learning more about Duke Ellington’s style and new way of doing things, I came to understand his decisions. He was not trying to be like the other jazz composers or artists, he was trying to create his own sound. He was self taught which made it easy for him to improvise his compositions in multiple ways. He broke all the rules he and other people knew of in order to create a new tone palate for jazz music. It was because of these reasons that he was often called America’s greatest composer. From his improvisation, to the new rhythms he chose, to his blues tonalities, he showed everyone what jazz music could truly be.
The first Duke Ellington song I listened to was “Daybreak Express”. The beat and pace at the beginning of the song is set to imitate that of a train. It starts off very slow but gradually begins to pick up speed getting faster and faster until finally it reaches its top speed. The song includes a variety of train noses like the whistle. You can also hear quite a number of instruments in the song like the trumpet, clarinet and other orchestra instruments. The song beat and tempo is very fast paced and dramatic. It kind of reminded me of a track you would hear in a James Bond or other spy movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GohBkHaHap8
The second Duke Ellington I listened to was “Mood Indigo”. The song opens with a piano solo which is then accompanied by a trumpet and saxophone combo and then followed by a clarinet solo. Compared to the previous song this one is very laid back and easy going. In my opinion it's the kind of song you would play when you're trying to kick back and relax. Or something you would play if you had friends over for dinner. I personally enjoyed the sound of the trumpet and thought that it was the most smooth sounding of all the instruments featured on the track. The piano was also a nice touch and helped to give a little energy and spice to the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4
The final song of Ellington's I listened to was “Rainy Nights”. This song is a nice blend between dance and concert. It’s a song that makes you wanna get up and dance but also has a more sophisticated side to it. The song's rhythm and flow are unpredictable, constantly moving up and down taking the listener for a ride. Ellington does a great job of blending all the sounds of each instrument together, but at the same time there are moments where he allows some of them to stand out like the trumpet and clarinet. Certain points of the songs feel like the music is building up creating an exciting feel to it.
“Jubilee Stomp” is a great upbeat sort of dance song. The switching of instruments playing the melody or soloing is a big part of jazz, but upon learning about Duke Ellington, he probably wanted to include as much variety as possible. This furthers his view on making music for “his people,” each instrument played is a different sound, but in the end they all make beautiful music and are apart of a greater whole, just like all the people of the world.
“Wall Street Wail” contains Ellington’s signature dissonance as instruments intermingle. The song title itself may be a reference to the struggles that the poor faced trying to make a living in the rich sectors of America. If so, then it can be thought that the multiple melodic voices that constitute “Wall Street Wail” are the wails of less fortunate people, particularly African American, that Ellington represented through his music. Trumpet and saxophone lines produce these wailing sounds, and the song incorporates a much subtler backing beat than “Flaming Youth.” The saxophone player adeptly dances up and down scales, creating the impression that this instrument is wailing, like the title suggests. However, the sax cuts in and out of the piece, and in its absence, the trumpets play around with both major and minor progressions. “Wall Street Wail” demonstrates Duke Ellington’s innovative musicianship and his commitment to representing the music of all America.
Song: Choo Choo By: Duke Ellington https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNwpqNRhvY Choo Choo by Duke Ellington is one of two first recordings. Made very popular, Choo Choo is considered not only a first recorded song, but a train song. Duke Ellington received credit for this song along with two others of eight records made in 1924. I thought it was a very interesting song. The way the trumpet sounds in this song is also interesting. Ellington and his group of people supposedly created their own way of playing instruments. After hearing Choo Choo, I think it is a song that today wouldn’t be so popular especially because there are no lyrics. The pace of this song is not very slow but no where near fast; it seems like a more casual song. Song: Rainy Nights By: Duke Ellington https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4 This is the second song that has the most rewarding title besides Choo Choo. While listening to the song, I hear a very strong instrument and a background one. The trumpet or saxophone is very clear and has its own uniqueness in my opinion. I first heard Choo Choo then Rainy Nights. Even tho to many they might not sound similar, I think they do. Song: It Don’t mean a thing By: Duke Ellington https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDQpZT3GhDg Duke Ellington’s message throughout this song is exactly the same as the title. He is saying how it doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t do this or that. The tune/ sound of his trumpet was very catchy. Of the three songs I listened to, I liked this one the best. The band that plays behind him is very talented and witty out of them, I feel Duke Ellington would not be able to play this same song. Overall I also thought this song went by very quick and had a faster pace.
I decided to unpack “If You Can’t Hold the Man You Love” in a new way after watching the video and reading the article. His jazz composition was something that no one could reach for as his knowledge of harmony was outstanding. I chose this song again because of the trumpet duet he portrayed in this song. He is great at working in groups because he knows the color of each instrument. For example, when he performed with the orchestra, he knew the orchestra so well. He is well aware of his surroundings, not just only his part. With self teaching himself, he came a far way and proved that he is a great musician himself. Becoming a part of Harlem Renaissance, he performed for both African- American and white audiences even in the segregated society of the day.
The first song I chose is called Indigo Mood. This song began with a choppy piano solo, but then came some of the most soothing sounds ever. After about 10 seconds or so, multiple horns are played at once, producing an extremely calming sound of consonance. The horns sound together gave me a vibe that sounded similar to Louis Armstrong’s “West End Blues.”
Black beauty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4fP4cGo6sc
The second song I chose is called Black Beauty. I was intrigued by the title at first, and to my surprise, the song actually sounds quite playful and lighthearted. I like the main piano that plays throughout the song, it sounds like something you’d hear in a 1940s cartoon. I don’t understand why exactly this song is titled the way it is, since I don’t feel any black vibes when listening. However, the word beauty does come through here, for sure. Towards the end, it sounds like the end of a cartoon, with the final woosh of all the piano keys down the line. This song seems to just boost your serotonin levels with and overall positive sound to it.
Rainy Nights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIVrSoQi-io
The last song I chose is called Rainy Nights. I couldn’t find this song on Spotify, so I clicked one on YouTube, but audio was somewhat fuzzy throughout the song, however, I could still hear all the typical elements of a Duke Ellington song throughout. It did sound like there was rain in the background almost because of this. There was a thumping sound that carried throughout the song, while having horns in the background. This song sounds great for lounging in a night scene or something of that sort
I cannot believe that I didn’t catch this listening to it at first. I specifically didn’t understand why the song as called “Black Beauty,” but now it makes total sense. Duke Ellington’s goal as a musician was to create music with no bounds, or categories, or labels— and ultimately remove that stereotype that black people were inferior. He was a main part of the Harlem Renaissance in this. He believed that the language of music is what brings people together, so he was trying to unite people through his music. The song was titled this because he wants to show beauty in being black, rather than the opposite picture that America has painted of black people being promiscuous, wild, or just inferior overall. Interesting how this song was purely instrumental, but still got this message across very well, as i can see now. The lightheartedness, the happy feeling of there being no problems at all, is definitely a vibe that comes out of this song, and i think Ellington was trying to connect that to black people— that there is nothing to worry about, they aren’t who the stereotype says they are.
After talking in class today, it is very difficult to listen to one of these songs and not appreciate every different instrument that is being played. What makes this better is that you can distinctly hear every different instrument, while at the same time they all blend so well. I think that just listening to all of the sounds within the song just shows how much Ellington cared about every aspect of his music, and that he was truly someone who put a lot of time and effort into each group of instruments that were being played in his songs.
Although I did not complete the blog post, I did listen to the three songs. One of the ones I chose was “Cotton Club Stomp.” When I listened to it I was struck by how good it is for dancing. It has one main melody and retains the same tempo throughout, which is quite catchy. Now that I know the history of Duke Ellington and the Cotton Club, I can imagine him playing this song while people dance. Also. I think the tone of the song changes when you know that Duke Ellington was playing only for a white audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W86JH4snDSU In "Cotton Club Stomp" Duke Ellington plays in the background to let his band shine. You can hear the piano's rhythm throughout the piece, but it is driven more by brass solos. This shows good of a leader he is for his band, which he led for over 50 years. He does not need to always be enter stage, because he was playing with some of the best musicians of the time. Some of his band members stayed with the band for decades.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX3UBxF6LIA "Daybreak Express" tells the story of a train ride. Duke Ellington wrote this song to sound like a train, complete with a train whistle. According to the passage we read, musicians to this day do not know how to replicate the train whistle effect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIVrSoQi-io "Rainy Nights" is reminiscent of "Sidewalk Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton. It features a consistent backing tempo, and is led by the brass instruments, which vary in pace. "Rainy Nights" makes me imagine a quiet evening spent inside while it rains outside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4
ReplyDeleteOne of Ellington's original, "Rainy Nights" is the first piece I decided to listen to. From the instruments, the jazzy feeling is delivered to the audience. The prolonged notes are also included as there are short notes that makes the piece more enjoyable too. There is a bouncy feeling throughout the song, and there is a solo given to the trumpet in the middle which is more impactful. The performance is said to be fit in the New York manner as Ellington made this between 1924 and 1926. After listening to the whole piece I realized that the piece had a sudden ending/ stop without any warning, which I thought was interesting. Usually there is a gradual diminuendo, however, in this piece it is different, giving it a unique and upbeat vibe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCylUgJE1kM
"If You Can't Hold the Man You Love" was in the 99 hits and is why I decided to make this my second choice. In this piece, there is a trumpet duet with a rhythmic figure. I really liked the singing in this piece as it is different what we usually listen to in 2021. The trumpet really brought out the melody which sounded like a stuttering sound. There are variety of trumpet playing style included all in one song. This piece is extremely upbeat and addictive as it makes your head bop when the trumpet duet starts playing. I personally enjoyed listening to this song as it was very enjoyable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4fP4cGo6sc
"Black Beauty" performed by Duke Ellington is my final choice for this list. I first of all chose this because of the title. After listening to the intro of the song, I noticed it was very different from my previous two which was upbeat. In this piece, it had a solemn start as it slowly starts to increase in volume and speed. The sound of the piano and the drum in the background was what had the piece together, I think. Very different from Duke Ellington's usual style, it includes the piano. However, the trumpet does make its appearance towards the middle of the song. This piece was steady, which is one reason why I liked it.
I decided to unpack “If You Can’t Hold the Man You Love” in a new way after watching the video and reading the article. His jazz composition was something that no one could reach for as his knowledge of harmony was outstanding. I chose this song again because of the trumpet duet he portrayed in this song. He is great at working in groups because he knows the color of each instrument. For example, when he performed with the orchestra, he knew the orchestra so well. He is well aware of his surroundings, not just only his part. With self teaching himself, he came a far way and proved that he is a great musician himself. Becoming a part of Harlem Renaissance, he performed for both African- American and white audiences even in the segregated society of the day.
Delete“Soda Fountain Rag”-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYTI4eCBVFg
ReplyDelete“Soda Fountain Rag”, one of Ellington’s first pieces, has got that telltale ragtime swing of hte 1920’s. However, something about it sounds more classical and smooth than the other ragtime songs I’d heard before: maybe it’s the grainy audio since it was recorded in 1914. It’s hard to believe that Ellington wrote and recorded the piece when he was in his teens because of how professional it sounds; the way the notes rapidly flow into each other like the soda churning in a soda machine will make almost anyone want to tap their foot to the beat.
“Rainy Nights”-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYTI4eCBVFg
This piece sounds exactly like something that would play in an old 1940’s nook on a rainy evening with the fast paced yet sleepy rhythm. The grainy background noise from the vinyl recording only adds to the effect by really adding an old-timey vibe to the music. I’ve noticed that Duke Ellington’s pieces are a bit more organized than that of traditional jazz music where there’s lots of improv, most likely due to the fact that he composed a lot of his songs. The instrumentals in this song sort of blend in and create a kind of haze that soothes the soul of anyone listening.
“Black and Tan Fantasy”-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN3_c1OnA3s
The tone of this piece is quite somber, with the long drawn minor notes of the trumpets and marching beat. The title of the song, “Black and Tan Fantasy” paired with the wailing trumpets and beat possibly reflects the experience of black folks during this time period as Jim Crow laws were at their peak around this time. I’d imagine hearing this melancholy song playing out of an apartment window on a humid, muggy night as the person living in the apartment looks out over the city and pensively smokes a cigarette
“Black and Tan Fantasy” was actually a piece written about the hot and steamy atmosphere of the “Black and Tan” nightclubs in all around the area, thus renedering the slow pace and marching beat of the song more fitting. He most likely wrote the music off of watching the actions and mannerisms of those in the clubs and then translated that into a melody and beat. Itʻs clear to see that he carefully wrote his score with the individual instrumental aspects in mind, with the wailing trumpets and piano riffs merging together into a slew of notes. According to the documentary, the reference that Ellington made to Chopinʻs Funeral March was a testament to the reality of life that nothing good lasts forever.
Deletehttps://youtu.be/qegkkI0ZsFI
ReplyDelete“Choo Choo” by Duke Ellington is one of his first successful recording of his train songs. In the beginning, the slow tempo of the instruments were then transitioned into the a faster tempo. A lower note would then be followed up by a higher note. There is a lot of repetition of the same notes throughout the song. This is referred to a train song because of the train like noises that are exemplified in this song.There is a whistle-like sound that ends the song.
https://youtu.be/o60EeEXbxHs
“Creole Love Call” by Duke Ellington begins with a slow quarry of instruments with a background singer singing calls out. A trumpet solo and a clarinet solo is played. This song sets a mellow mood that would have the ability to calm a person down. Towards the end, Adelaide Hall offers her wordless singing, which adds a uniqueness to this blues song. Instead of it just being instrumental, the singing offers the listeners something more.
https://youtu.be/7atwjmPcxng
“Jubilee Stomp” by Duke Ellington is an orchestra piece that shows Ellington’s ability to compose beautiful music. It begins with a slow opening then immediately becoming fast paced. It is an instrumentation of multiple horns with a rhythmic section. This is a song that exemplifies what jazz music truly was about. The upbeat tempo makes you want to dance right with along to it.
The song, “Creole Love Call” by Duke Ellington, is an orchestrated piece along with the wordless vocals of Adelaide Hall. Ellington uses her vocals as a new instrument for his orchestra. In class, we discussed upon the topics of how African Americans during that time were looked down upon in the community. A stereotype was created where African Americans were inferior in every way compared with the rest of the community. Ellington wanted to prove that these stereotypes were wrong. With the intricate melody and the difficulty of the song, Ellington was able to show that African Americans were intelligent because they were able to play these types of songs.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7atwjmPcxng
ReplyDelete“Jubilee Stomp” feels like what I imagine a dance club in the 1920’s feels like. It’s fast and in your face, the trumpets are loud and the melody swings from one note to another like a dancer’s legs, and it’s got a perfect slow opening just long enough for someone to get out of their seat and onto the dance floor. One could also easily imagine that the brass instruments are their own singers, each having a conversation with another. The beats and overlap between them mimic the cacophony of conversations you hear in a crowded bar between your own dialogue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTD9-Qv3bs
“Harlem Flat Blues” starts immediately with a trumpet note so startling I nearly jumped first listening to it. After that, the song mellows out, the notes are spaced far apart and the tempo is consistent, though in typical jazz-ish fashion, the trumpets are not synched completely to the beat. One of my favorite parts is in the middle where the trombone sound gets garbled and it almost sounds like someone speaking. It’s sort of like when the adults speak in Charlie Brown, which were in fact actually just trombone noises, where it’s a vague approximation of what it sounds like when you hear something but you done really listen to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myRc-3oF1d0
This recording of “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing” is a collaboration between Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald. The lyrics aren’t anything particularly interesting, there are really only about 10 different lines in the whole song, but that just allows you to focus on Fitzgerald’s beautiful voice and the captivating melody. The scat break every other line in conjunction with the fast paced piano feels like you’re running, not to anywhere in particular, but just running as fast as you can just to feel something.
“Jubilee Stomp” is a reflection on the life of African-Americans at the time, specifically the happier moments, told through the perspective of a dancing song. It includes overlapping melodies and fast rythms, reminiscent of the discord Ellington said was present in everyday life in Harlem. Yet, the Ellington embraces the chaos and shows it’s beauty to the people he played to, specifically to the white patrons at the Cotton Club. Not only is it a reflection of African-American life in general, but it could be said that it’s a reflection of the band he played in. Ellington knew that a trumpet wasn’t a trumpet, it was it’s own individual that was different depending on who was playing. The cacophony of brass instruments makes up a conversation like section, almost as if they are really talking to each other, which could very well be what Ellington was going for.
Deletehttps://youtu.be/GohBkHaHap8
ReplyDelete“Mood Indigo” showcases the talent of the individuals who make up Duke Ellington’s band. The slow, dragging beat of “Mood Indigo” is consistent throughout most of the song. Each player highlighted in the song plays beautifully with the expression of individuality but cohesiveness with the song as a whole. The dissonance in the song is a nice touch by Ellington. In the nicest way possible, “Mood Indigo” sounds like a song that one would hear in the elevator.
https://youtu.be/2f6GMM6gxV4
Ellington’s 1924 hit, “Rainy Nights,” has less complexity in terms of the amount of instruments in comparison to “Mood Indigo.” The rhythm of the song sounds more like the “chug” of a train. Ellington’s composing skills are shown profoundly in this song; the mixing of instruments and the timing in which the instruments play is skillfully put together. I’m not too sure if the static in the song was put there purposely or if it is a defect in translation but the static helps with creating the tone of listening to this song when it’s raining.
https://youtu.be/qDQpZT3GhDg
“It Don’t Mean A Thing” is the only song of the three that I listened to that has lyrics. That being said, the vocals make this song distinguished from the other two. The foot-tapping rhythm also helps to make this song more distinguishable. Another factor is the use of string instruments which aren’t seen in “Mood Indigo” and “Rainy Nights.” This song captures the band’s entirety as well as Ellington’s ear for good, quality music.
The way that this song is played highlights the specific skills of each player. Ellington’s mixing of the instruments, how they are played, the timing, and solo performances all help to make this song so different from the others. Another notable thing is the way that the musicians present themselves: they dress in nice suits/tuxedos, are clean shaven, and they look proud of what they are doing. These are elements of “The New Negro.” The performance of “It Don’t Mean A Thing” makes African Americans look respectable and prestigious.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4
ReplyDeleteThe first song I listened to is “Rainy Nights.” In the song, it is all instrumental. The tune itself is quite entertaining as it is upbeat. There is an effect, which I’m not sure it was the video or the actual recording itself, but it sounds very static. It almost gives that “rain” feeling as if the rain was hitting the ground. The song’s melody is very memorable as it is mostly one note being played the entire time. The instrumental of the song gives off that jazz feeling and what jazz music is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tS-ENcYqpw
“Breakfast Dance” is a song you would think is something that would be played while eating breakfast, hence the title. Honestly, I think this song could be played whenever and wherever. This tune is very upbeat and a perfect song to dance to. Some parts of the tune reminds of like a 1950s theme song as they share the same melody or were inspired by it. I can picture this song being played at a diner more than a speakeasy since the music itself is very upbeat and uplifting too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-HS7V-3STs
The last song I listened to was “Jump for Joy.” Unlike the other two songs, there are some vocals in this song. The vocalist in the song is not Ellington himself as it is a woman singing. This song seems to fit perfect for a movie-musical and it has the components for one: the catchy tune, the lyrics, and the overall theme of happiness. Though the vocals aren’t consistent throughout the song as it transitions to an instrumental part, I think having vocals part of the song is a great addition as it is something different. The song is very catchy and makes me happy when I listen to it. The song doesn’t end abruptly but has a solid ending to it.
After watching the film and reflecting on what we learned today, “Breakfast Dance” is the type of song that could have a hidden meaning. Even though it is instrumental, I think that the context goes back to the “new negro.” When learning about the “new negro,” black people were the advertisements for white products. There was one ad that we saw in class today reflecting back on breakfast and I thought about maybe this song is some sort of advertisement. The instruments being played in the song are what Ellington usually plays and it is an upbeat song.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myRc-3oF1d0
ReplyDeleteIt Don’t Mean A Thing (If it Ain’t Got Swing) is with both Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. In the video that I watched, Fitzgerald is the one singing and Ellington is playing the piano. The song is very upbeat and catchy while it seems like the same lyrics are mainly repeated. There’s nothing too special about the lyrics but I thought that it was interesting how the lyrics have a lot of “doo wah.” I think that it was more common back then, but in music now you never hear something like that as the lyrics. The fast pace of the song really adds to it and while there aren’t many lyrics, there was a wonderful solo part in the middle where Ellington played the piano. Together, Fitzgerald and Ellington created a great song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrytKuC3Z_o
In “Satin Doll,” the video that I watched includes Duke Ellington as well as his whole orchestra. While Ellington was great on the piano, I also really liked the orchestra in the song. I thought that they really added to the song and they compliment Ellington’s piano playing. The song starts off pretty slow and at some parts there’s some build up and then it’ll go back to being slow. Sometimes you hear more of the orchestra, while others it’s mainly Ellington. This song has no lyrics but I think that Ellington and his orchestra alone make it a really great song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkLBSLxo5LE
“Caravan” starts off with an almost mischievous tone. The beginning has a few different instruments playing and they are all played in a pretty low note. The song slowly gets more upbeat and more instruments join in to the song. Throughout it has a really nice beat and certain instruments throughout are heard. This song also doesn’t have any lyrics but it does have a lot of different instruments heard throughout the song. Each of the different instruments contribute to the unique sound of the song and in the end, it ends off with a loud horn and the crash of a symbol.
After watching the film and today’s class, I think that Duke Ellington’s song “Satin Doll” has a deeper meaning. Even though this song is only instrumentals, the film talked about how Ellington thought that music was about breaking down barriers and bringing everyone together. In the song, Ellington has different harmonies that are supposed to represent the difference between masculinity and femininity. He liked to work in different themes and messages into his songs even if it was only instrumentals. The film also talked about “jumble music” and I think that this is one of those pieces in that it had a lot of different harmonies and sounds to make up the piece.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsO09U5u_Ws
ReplyDeleteThe first song I listened to was “Daybreak Express.” This song is clearly portraying a scene on a train, you can tell by the constant whistle blowing, moving of gears and fast pace tempo. “Daybreak Express” was mostly made up of train sound effects and a trumpet. This song kind of reminded me of the “Hot Coco” scene in Polar Express because of the excitement, and fun vibes of the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaq9Gx9GT5E
The second song I listened to was “Mood Indigo,” this song was very different compared to “Daybreak Express.” This was because this was a much slower, and calmer tune. While “Daybreak Express” was only instrumentals and sound effects, “Mood Indigo,” featured a saxophone and included vocals. I really enjoyed this song, especially the vocals, she had a really soft and smooth tone to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqUfuW6kZnY
In my opinion “The Blues with a Feeling” was sort of like a combination of “Daybreak Express” and “Mood Indigo,” it was a faster paced jazz song but it also included a lot of the same qualities of a slow jazz song. I really like the raspy voice of singer of this song because his voice gave me a very calming sense.
After todays class, my perspective of the song “Daybreak Express” has defiantly changed. After learning about Duke Ellington and how he affected jazz music in America is clearly seen in this song. As this song matches with the idea of “Jungle Jazz.” The fast pace of the song and the quick tempo makes this a great song to dance to specifically swing dancing, which was really popular at this time. I also think that the sound effects of the whistle and trains also tie in with the “Jungle Jazz” vibe.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4
ReplyDeleteThe first song that I listened to was “Rainy Nights”. When I compared it to Louis Armstrong’s song it was a partly different but I thought there was a lot of similarities, in the sounds. But I thought there was simularities in the brassy tones and raspy tunes and kind of like a voice which Armstrong did. I thought that Armstrong’s style had. a huge influence on Ellington.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTD9-Qv3bs
The next song I listen to was “Harlem Flat Blues”. Personally I thought that the song had a crazy amount of artistry and sound that he was able to produced sounded exactly like a blues melody, followed in the background was a harsh background piano which mimicked stomping throughout the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f51veCHdEyc
Lastly, I listen to “ The Blues With a Feelin'”. I thought that this song was very similar to other songs. It had the same raspy tones and I really liked this song. Like I already said it had such a raspy tune to it and such a background with replies that we have seen in other jazz song. I actually really like the song compared to the other songs, probably because the song felt more up beat and fun.
I listened back on “Harlem Flat Blues”. In class we reviewed Ellington, I noticed that I it did have the characteristics of more of an exotic music and felt more of the Jungle music name which it was given. I thought that when closely listening to it, it did strike me about all the instruments that were being used during the song. Like soloist had the raspy tune and followed by a sweet tune following it like someone having a strong statement and then followed by an agreement. I can agree with myself from before that the harsh kind of piano stomping was like the background beat and I thought that it gave more of like a blues melody to it. Overall it gave me a lot more appreciation for the song the second time around and I was able to develop my ideas more clearly.
Deletehttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r3vTpA4m1nM
ReplyDeleteReleased by Ellington and His Cotton Club Orchestra in 1929, “Flaming Youth” is lively without being unrestrained. A simple piano and snare progression sets an energetic but steady pulse for the song. Trumpet lines take the melody, which sounds almost entirely improvised. The trumpets so effectively mimic human voices in the way they sway to the music, that I thought there was vocal work at first. Each instrument drifts along in this composition, painting a more laid-back and enduring picture of youth.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EOT9RW2OHJk
“Wall Street Wail” begins with multiple melodic voices on the trumpet and saxophone, as well as a much subtler backing beat than “Flaming Youth.” The saxophone player adeptly dances up and down scales, creating the impression that this instrument is wailing, like the title suggests. However, the sax cuts in and out of the piece, and in its absence, the trumpets play around with both major and minor progressions. “Wall Street Wail” is playful and fun to listen to, demonstrating Duke Ellington’s impressive musicianship.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tS-ENcYqpw
“Breakfast Dance” again incorporates multiple trumpets that together weave in and out of melodic riffs. However, there is clearly a main trumpet line in this piece that plays most prominently above the others. This part is probably performed by Ellington, and it reflects his keen ear for listening and responding to the direction the accompaniment is taking. “Breakfast Dance” sounds like a few different styles of music at once but maintains the unique voicing of Ellington’s jazz.
The first song I listened to was “Satin Doll.” This song starts with a piano by itself. It then goes on to add a multitude of instruments such as trumpets. The overall sound of the song is calm and serene, like satin as the title suggests. There are some points in the song where the trumpets play louder and at other times the piano is the star of the song. I liked listening to it. It felt like the way rain feels hitting your skin.
ReplyDeleteThe second song I listened to was “Mood Indigo.” This one started off a little odd with some clashing notes on the piano. It then went on to sound like ballroom music with a slow beat and a soft trumpet playing as an accent. The singers voice was smooth like warm honey and she sang of not knowing what being “blue” felt like until you feel “indigo” which I assume is a stronger and sadder feeling than regular blue. Although this is a sad song, its very pleasing to listen to.
The last song i listened to was the “Creole Love Call.” This song starts off with a piano solo that seems a bit chaotic. It then goes on to have a soothing tune with the rest of the orchestra. The trumpet is the “singer” in this song and it plays by itself on its on melody line for much of the song. The piano does come back again in strange clashing tangents but the trumpet is the star of the show. At the end theres a more ominous sound from one of the instruments that confused me a bit, but the beautiful thing about having no words is that you get to determine the words in the music that speak to you.
The song “Creole Love Call” has gained new meaning after watching the film section on Ellington. Seeing the dancers who would accompany the music and understating the idea of the sexuality and erotic nature of this “jungle” jazz music makes this song more of an exciting piece. The sound of the orchestra is fluid and engaging but also welcoming, the way Ellington’s personality was. The end of the song is also more explained. It confused me at first why such a happy song had a strangely sad and somber ending, but it was explained in the film that sometimes he would have songs end that way to show that nothing good lasts forever and that perfectly explains the ending.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNwpqNRhvY
ReplyDeleteI listened to “Choo Choo” by Duke Ellington. Being one of his most popular records, I expected a lot. Like Louis Armstrong’s songs, the song starts with a mellow and slow instrumental. It then transitions to a faster beat. The notes from high to low transition back and forth which I didn’t usually expect to hear. I learned that this song is a “train song” because of the sounds of a train going over tracks. This creates a story and a very fun song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4fP4cGo6sc
“Black Beauty” by Duke Ellington is a beautifully titled and beautifully written song. Unlike the last song of Duke Ellington, I found the song to keep the same mellow and relatively slower tempo. There’s a little crescendo in the beginning which happens a lot but is less significant than his other songs. I also noticed the difference in the instruments. There’s a noticeable piano and less of his trumpet throughout the song. Overall, the tone was beautiful and calm, not what I expected from Duke Ellington.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiuzOytFYfo
Listening to and watching “Jubilee Stomp” by Duke Ellington, I didn’t realize how much elects played into his songs. This particular video was titled Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra. There were drums, trumpets, trombones, guitars, saxophone, and Duke Ellington on the piano. It’s a high tempo song that’s filled with note slides and shifts in attitude with each musician. Like his most songs, this song also started with a slower opening which almost prepares the audience or people at the club to get ready for this wild show of Duke Ellington
I have learned a deeper understanding for the song “Jubilee Stomp”. As Duke talks about his people, he makes it clear that he loves “the people”. In this song his Cotton Club Orchestra is featured in it. It shows how unselfish Duke Ellington was and how each person that’s part of the “the people” shine greatly. With each musician is each personality and important role which creates masterpieces like this song. The film goes over how there’s no strict script in his music. He trusts in his orchestra members and it just seems to flow.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4
ReplyDelete“Rainy Nights” By Duke Ellington has a kind of chaotic beginning but with a steady beat. It almost sounds like the beat is like the rain pellets falling down and then there’s the wind instruments that are singing in the rain. Overall I feel like this song has a happy tune to it and it’s a song meant for dancing in the rain. This is a great song to play when it’s pouring rain outside, that could possibly convince the listener to go playing in the rain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjRAa5KFmKU
“I Got it Bad and That Ain’t good” is a slow song about a man who is in love. It starts off with the string instruments playing a slow melody with the wind instruments to back them up, with the piano as its base. The song is very slow throughout the song, almost like singing in a dream, like a lullaby. Even though this love song is about someone not wanting to be so deep in love but is, it’s a very sweet and calming song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNwpqNRhvY
“Choo Choo” starts off with the trumpets and other wind instruments. It has a fast pace to it with the wind instruments having a few riffs along the way. The beat is very fast paced, kind of like riding on a train off somewhere fun. I thought it was nice that most of the instruments got a moment to shine in this song, each playing their own songs in this song. The solos were so unique it almost sounded like there were words coming out of the instruments singing the song.
I think the song “Choo Choo,” really represents how Duke is as a musician. Duke was able to make music that was about the people he grew up around and the people he represents. He was able to change peoples views on them instead of being dependent Duke was the exact opposite. He made a name for himself without much help of others, if anything others came to listen and learn from him. Duke was also able to bring out the best in every musician he worked with because he was able to read them. Which is why I think “Choo Choo” is a good representation of Duke and his music. This song is an original made by him and in this song he gave his musicians opportunities to stand out and do their thing. The way each instrument had their solo worked really well with the song. All Duke wanted was the world to see his art and to break the stereotypes.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNwpqNRhvY
ReplyDeleteThe first song I listened to was “Choo Choo”. This song was a good example of the originality of Duke Ellington’s music and his ability to create unique sounds with his band. I enjoyed the brass and trumpets parts which blended really well together. This song had a New Orleans feel but in a different period than we studied before. The fast pace of the song reflects how life must have felt like living at this time with everything constantly changing around your and the sounds of a train in the song reflect that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GohBkHaHap8
“Mood Indigo” was a piece which showcased the skill of each of the members of Duke’s band. There were solos for the piano, trumpet, clarinet, as well as for sax and trombone. I could see how Duke composed his music to suit his band members as the band seemed to be completely in synch at all times while producing extraordinary sounds. This song had a moody and improvisational feel, it gave me feelings of a group of people taking turns telling stories with their instruments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myRc-3oF1d0
“It don’t mean a thing (if it ain’t got that swing)” is a song that defines swing music from its rhythm to its lyrics which consist of scatting and only a handful of actual lyrics. Ella Fitzgerald is the one singing this song and her amazing voice add to the song significantly. There is also a solo piano part played by Duke himself in which he plays at a fast pace unusual to most piano parts. I liked this song because of the infectious rhythm and groovy feel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNwpqNRhvY
DeleteThe first song I listened to was “Choo Choo”. This song was a good example of the originality of Duke Ellington’s music and his ability to create unique sounds with his band. I enjoyed the brass and trumpets parts which blended really well together. This song had a New Orleans feel but in a different period than we studied before. The fast pace of the song reflects how life must have felt like living at this time with everything constantly changing around your and the sounds of a train in the song reflect that. This is a good example of Duke using unorthodox methods in his music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GohBkHaHap8
“Mood Indigo” was a piece which showcased the skill of each of the members of Duke’s band. There were solos for the piano, trumpet, clarinet, as well as for sax and trombone. I could see how Duke composed his music to suit his band members as the band seemed to be completely in synch at all times while producing extraordinary sounds. This song had a moody and improvisational feel, it gave me feelings of a group of people taking turns telling stories with their instruments. I could feel how Duke was trying to express the emotions of the people with this song and particularly the struggles of being black in America. Just like many other of his songs, Duke conveys emotion with extreme success in his songs so much so that the emotion of the song is hard to ignore. This gives the listeners an emotional connection with the music which contributed to his major success.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myRc-3oF1d0
“It don’t mean a thing (if it ain’t got that swing)” is a song that defines swing music from its rhythm to its lyrics which consist of scatting and only a handful of actual lyrics. Ella Fitzgerald is the one singing this song and her amazing voice add to the song significantly. There is also a solo piano part played by Duke himself in which he plays at a fast pace unusual to most piano parts. I liked this song because of the infectious rhythm and groovy feel. Unlike a lot of his other songs, this has an upbeat tempo and it feels as if the music is running with the instruments trying to catch up. It’s amazing to me how Duke compartmentalizes all of the different parts of the band and puts them together to form a coherent sound. This is a song you can’t help but tap your foot to.
Duke Ellington
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsO09U5u_Ws
The first song I chose to listen to by Duke Ellington was “Daybreak Express.” The beginning was very interesting. The music got more intense and louder as it began. The instruments were drums and trumpets. There was a train whistle which queued in some more instruments. I would say that this is a very interesting way to open a song and it would definitely catch an audience’s attention. It sounds a little hectic. There is a lot going on in the background. There is no singing. This song is strictly instrumental. The blend of instruments and sounds coming together sounds a bit crazy. It makes you jump almost. The ending doesn’t match the tune/mood of the rest of the song. It is calming and brings you to relax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYTI4eCBVFg
The second song I chose to listen to was “Soda Fountain Rag.” The beginning of this song is played on the piano. It is being played at a fast pace and makes the song feel playful and upbeat. It is also being played in a higher key which adds to that effect. I think that this is strictly a piano piece. It is very contrasting to the other one which sounded like it had more than 10 instruments going all at once. It was a very short song and since it was being played so fast I felt like I missed the entire thing. It seems to me that Duke Ellington has a range of themes in the jazz genre that he can do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTD9-Qv3bs
The last song I wanted to listen to was “Harlem Flat Blues.” I am pretty sure that the beginning of this song is being played on a trumpet/multiple trumpets. There is a steady pace in the song. This song feels relaxing and calming to listen to. There’s an instrument that sounds raspy almost as if it could be a form of Louis Armstrong’s. This song is also strictly instrumental. It is very different compared to other jazz songs that I have heard of. I am not too much of a fan of it. The solo of an instrument near the end sounds funny to me. I like the harmonization of the instruments as the song nears to an end though.
Duke Ellington’s “Daybreak Express” was very interesting for me to hear. The first time I heard it I think I was a bit overwhelmed because I had never heard anything like that type of music before. However, after learning more about Duke Ellington’s style and new way of doing things, I came to understand his decisions. He was not trying to be like the other jazz composers or artists, he was trying to create his own sound. He was self taught which made it easy for him to improvise his compositions in multiple ways. He broke all the rules he and other people knew of in order to create a new tone palate for jazz music. It was because of these reasons that he was often called America’s greatest composer. From his improvisation, to the new rhythms he chose, to his blues tonalities, he showed everyone what jazz music could truly be.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsO09U5u_Ws
ReplyDeleteThe first Duke Ellington song I listened to was “Daybreak Express”. The beat and pace at the beginning of the song is set to imitate that of a train. It starts off very slow but gradually begins to pick up speed getting faster and faster until finally it reaches its top speed. The song includes a variety of train noses like the whistle. You can also hear quite a number of instruments in the song like the trumpet, clarinet and other orchestra instruments. The song beat and tempo is very fast paced and dramatic. It kind of reminded me of a track you would hear in a James Bond or other spy movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GohBkHaHap8
The second Duke Ellington I listened to was “Mood Indigo”. The song opens with a piano solo which is then accompanied by a trumpet and saxophone combo and then followed by a clarinet solo. Compared to the previous song this one is very laid back and easy going. In my opinion it's the kind of song you would play when you're trying to kick back and relax. Or something you would play if you had friends over for dinner. I personally enjoyed the sound of the trumpet and thought that it was the most smooth sounding of all the instruments featured on the track. The piano was also a nice touch and helped to give a little energy and spice to the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4
The final song of Ellington's I listened to was “Rainy Nights”. This song is a nice blend between dance and concert. It’s a song that makes you wanna get up and dance but also has a more sophisticated side to it. The song's rhythm and flow are unpredictable, constantly moving up and down taking the listener for a ride. Ellington does a great job of blending all the sounds of each instrument together, but at the same time there are moments where he allows some of them to stand out like the trumpet and clarinet. Certain points of the songs feel like the music is building up creating an exciting feel to it.
“Jubilee Stomp” is a great upbeat sort of dance song. The switching of instruments playing the melody or soloing is a big part of jazz, but upon learning about Duke Ellington, he probably wanted to include as much variety as possible. This furthers his view on making music for “his people,” each instrument played is a different sound, but in the end they all make beautiful music and are apart of a greater whole, just like all the people of the world.
ReplyDelete“Wall Street Wail” contains Ellington’s signature dissonance as instruments intermingle. The song title itself may be a reference to the struggles that the poor faced trying to make a living in the rich sectors of America. If so, then it can be thought that the multiple melodic voices that constitute “Wall Street Wail” are the wails of less fortunate people, particularly African American, that Ellington represented through his music. Trumpet and saxophone lines produce these wailing sounds, and the song incorporates a much subtler backing beat than “Flaming Youth.” The saxophone player adeptly dances up and down scales, creating the impression that this instrument is wailing, like the title suggests. However, the sax cuts in and out of the piece, and in its absence, the trumpets play around with both major and minor progressions. “Wall Street Wail” demonstrates Duke Ellington’s innovative musicianship and his commitment to representing the music of all America.
ReplyDeleteJase
ReplyDeleteSong: Choo Choo
By: Duke Ellington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlNwpqNRhvY
Choo Choo by Duke Ellington is one of two first recordings. Made very popular, Choo Choo is
considered not only a first recorded song, but a train song. Duke Ellington received credit for
this song along with two others of eight records made in 1924. I thought it was a very interesting
song. The way the trumpet sounds in this song is also interesting. Ellington and his group of
people supposedly created their own way of playing instruments. After hearing Choo Choo, I
think it is a song that today wouldn’t be so popular especially because there are no lyrics. The
pace of this song is not very slow but no where near fast; it seems like a more casual song.
Song: Rainy Nights
By: Duke Ellington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f6GMM6gxV4
This is the second song that has the most rewarding title besides Choo Choo. While listening to
the song, I hear a very strong instrument and a background one. The trumpet or saxophone is
very clear and has its own uniqueness in my opinion. I first heard Choo Choo then Rainy Nights.
Even tho to many they might not sound similar, I think they do.
Song: It Don’t mean a thing
By: Duke Ellington
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDQpZT3GhDg
Duke Ellington’s message throughout this song is exactly the same as the title. He is saying how
it doesn’t mean a thing if you don’t do this or that. The tune/ sound of his trumpet was very
catchy. Of the three songs I listened to, I liked this one the best. The band that plays behind him
is very talented and witty out of them, I feel Duke Ellington would not be able to play this same
song. Overall I also thought this song went by very quick and had a faster pace.
I decided to unpack “If You Can’t Hold the Man You Love” in a new way after watching the video and reading the article. His jazz composition was something that no one could reach for as his knowledge of harmony was outstanding. I chose this song again because of the trumpet duet he portrayed in this song. He is great at working in groups because he knows the color of each instrument. For example, when he performed with the orchestra, he knew the orchestra so well. He is well aware of his surroundings, not just only his part. With self teaching himself, he came a far way and proved that he is a great musician himself. Becoming a part of Harlem Renaissance, he performed for both African- American and white audiences even in the segregated society of the day.
DeleteCaroline
ReplyDeleteIndigo Mood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GohBkHaHap8
The first song I chose is called Indigo Mood. This song began with a choppy piano solo, but then came some of the most soothing sounds ever. After about 10 seconds or so, multiple horns are played at once, producing an extremely calming sound of consonance. The horns sound together gave me a vibe that sounded similar to Louis Armstrong’s “West End Blues.”
Black beauty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4fP4cGo6sc
The second song I chose is called Black Beauty. I was intrigued by the title at first, and to my surprise, the song actually sounds quite playful and lighthearted. I like the main piano that plays throughout the song, it sounds like something you’d hear in a 1940s cartoon. I don’t understand why exactly this song is titled the way it is, since I don’t feel any black vibes when listening. However, the word beauty does come through here, for sure. Towards the end, it sounds like the end of a cartoon, with the final woosh of all the piano keys down the line. This song seems to just boost your serotonin levels with and overall positive sound to it.
Rainy Nights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIVrSoQi-io
The last song I chose is called Rainy Nights. I couldn’t find this song on Spotify, so I clicked one on YouTube, but audio was somewhat fuzzy throughout the song, however, I could still hear all the typical elements of a Duke Ellington song throughout. It did sound like there was rain in the background almost because of this. There was a thumping sound that carried throughout the song, while having horns in the background. This song sounds great for lounging in a night scene or something of that sort
I cannot believe that I didn’t catch this listening to it at first. I specifically didn’t understand why the song as called “Black Beauty,” but now it makes total sense. Duke Ellington’s goal as a musician was to create music with no bounds, or categories, or labels— and ultimately remove that stereotype that black people were inferior. He was a main part of the Harlem Renaissance in this. He believed that the language of music is what brings people together, so he was trying to unite people through his music. The song was titled this because he wants to show beauty in being black, rather than the opposite picture that America has painted of black people being promiscuous, wild, or just inferior overall. Interesting how this song was purely instrumental, but still got this message across very well, as i can see now. The lightheartedness, the happy feeling of there being no problems at all, is definitely a vibe that comes out of this song, and i think Ellington was trying to connect that to black people— that there is nothing to worry about, they aren’t who the stereotype says they are.
DeleteAfter talking in class today, it is very difficult to listen to one of these songs and not appreciate every different instrument that is being played. What makes this better is that you can distinctly hear every different instrument, while at the same time they all blend so well. I think that just listening to all of the sounds within the song just shows how much Ellington cared about every aspect of his music, and that he was truly someone who put a lot of time and effort into each group of instruments that were being played in his songs.
ReplyDeleteNathalie
ReplyDeleteAlthough I did not complete the blog post, I did listen to the three songs. One of the ones I chose was “Cotton Club Stomp.” When I listened to it I was struck by how good it is for dancing. It has one main melody and retains the same tempo throughout, which is quite catchy. Now that I know the history of Duke Ellington and the Cotton Club, I can imagine him playing this song while people dance. Also. I think the tone of the song changes when you know that Duke Ellington was playing only for a white audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W86JH4snDSU
ReplyDeleteIn "Cotton Club Stomp" Duke Ellington plays in the background to let his band shine. You can hear the piano's rhythm throughout the piece, but it is driven more by brass solos. This shows good of a leader he is for his band, which he led for over 50 years. He does not need to always be enter stage, because he was playing with some of the best musicians of the time. Some of his band members stayed with the band for decades.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX3UBxF6LIA
"Daybreak Express" tells the story of a train ride. Duke Ellington wrote this song to sound like a train, complete with a train whistle. According to the passage we read, musicians to this day do not know how to replicate the train whistle effect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIVrSoQi-io
"Rainy Nights" is reminiscent of "Sidewalk Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton. It features a consistent backing tempo, and is led by the brass instruments, which vary in pace. "Rainy Nights" makes me imagine a quiet evening spent inside while it rains outside.