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For historically accurate interpretations, there are different performance conventions in all musical genres. One wouldn't play Bach in the same style as Beethoven, right? And one would also switch styles between The Beatles and The White Stripes. Similarly, jazz has specific performance conventions for composers and arrangers through its history.
Essentially Ellington transcriber and judge, David Berger, has created performance notes that are uniquely tailored to playing Ellingtonia. Take a look and see how an Ellington authority writes about playing in the style of Ellington.
Additional Activity
In music, there's no better test than using your ears! Take a listen to the music of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Compare it to other bands of the same period (The Count Basie Band, Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, and many others!) and see if you can identify their distinctive characteristics!
Here are some ideas to think about when you listen to big band music:
- Listen to the types of arrangements each bands use. Are the arrangements riff-based or composed from beginning to end?
- Listen to the personality of the players as they play in sections. Is there more freedom to express individual lines or is the section sound more important?
- What instruments are being used? Can you identify outstanding soloists?
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Jazz at Lincoln Center
Essentially Ellington
33 West 60th Street
New York, NY 10023
Email: ee@jalc.org
Phone: (212) 258-9812
Fax: (212) 258-9900
For general inquiries about Jazz at Lincoln Center, please click here.
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