Duke Ellington, Jazz Composer [Paperback]

Ken Rattenbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 1993

American composer, pianist, and orchestra leader Duke Ellington was the first genuine jazz composer of truly international status. In this book Ken Rattenbury offers the most thorough musical analysis ever written of Ellington's works, assessing the extent to which Ellington drew on the black music traditions of blues and ragtime and the music of Tin Pan Alley, and examining how he integrated black folk music practices with elements of European art music. Rattenbury, a professional jazz musician for over fifty years, investigates Ellington's methods of composing, focusing on works written, performed, and recorded between 1939 and 1941, years that witnessed the full flowering of Ellington's genius. He discusses the infinite care with which Ellington selected his musicians-players possessing, in addition to technical accomplishment, the unique folksy qualities of timbre and delivery necessary to contribute to the "Ellington sound." He remarks on Ellington's gifts as a melodist and songwriter, shedding light on the commercial aspect of his involvement with Tin Pan Alley. After examining two early Ellington compositions for piano, he closely analyzes full scores of five significant pieces transcribed from their original recordings and including all extemporized solos and variations in performance. These transcriptions range from a duo for piano and double bass, through pieces for small groups, to compositions for Ellington's full orchestra. Drawing at length from the observations of Ellington himself and of the members of Ellington's orchestra, as well as from his own, extensive musical knowledge, Rattenbury provides new perspectives on Ellington's life and music, the interpretations of some of his most creative soloists, and the evolution of the jazz tradition

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Generally considered the most important composer jazz has produced, Ellington has inspired nearly 20 biographies (e.g., those by James L. Collier, LJ 9/1/87, and Ron Frankl, Chelsea, 1989, both entitled Duke Ellington ) and several discographies, yet this appears to be the first book-length study of his methods of composition. English musician Rattenbury focuses on Ellington's "mature period," 1939-41, to demonstrate how the artist used elements of ragtime, Tin Pan Alley, the blues, and other styles in his compositions. Although intended for the musicologist, the study includes some biographical and historical information for the general reader. Appendixes include a chronology of Ellington's career and brief sketches of his principal sidemen.
- Paul Baker, CUNA, Inc., Madison, Wis.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (January 27, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300055072
• ISBN-13: 978-0300055078
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,145,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ellington for beginners, July 11, 2006

By 

Nikica Gilic - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duke Ellington, Jazz Composer (Paperback)

This excellent study of several Ellington's classical composition is very interesting for us who are not musical scholars but want to gain some insight in the mechanics behind Ellington's art. I suppose it will also serve as a great introduction to Ellington for musicologists who are not yet acquainted with his work.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good and less good about this book, October 15, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duke Ellington, Jazz Composer (Paperback)

The good thing about this book is, that it tries to describe the style of Ellington through musical analysis documented through transcriptions in notes, and it shows how Ellington was influenced by blues, ragtime and Tin Pan Alley. We are though not told everything about Ellington as composer, as one might gather from the title. It is strange that the author doesn't mention the tradition of categorization of the various styles of Ellington, nor do he explains, why he has ignored this tradition. The book must be understood as a contribution to the full investigation of Ellington as composer.

Jørgen Mathiasen, Musicologist and jazzhistorian,