Duke Ellington Essay - 1260 Words

Duke Ellington Duke Ellingtons pre-eminence in jazz is not only because of the very high aesthetic standard of his output and not simply due to his remarkable abilities as a pianist, composer and bandleader, but also to the fact that he has extended the boundaries of jazz more than any other musician, without abandoning the true essence of the music. Perhaps no other American musician left such a massive and challenging legacy in composition and performance. Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 1899, to parents James Edward and Daisy Kennedy Ellington. Duke, even as a teenager, had a great talent for music. His school music teacher, Mrs. Clinkscales, who played the piano, was always the†¦show more content†¦He would arrange dance bands for weddings and parties for extra money. He put his knowledge of piano playing to use and played at a few of the dance parties and weddings. After employing his artistic talent in painting posters, Duke then decided to put together his own band. This new music, known as jazz, was considered to be low and vulgar because it was music that grew directly out of the Black culture. In the early years of Dukes career, segregation was at one of its all time worst points in history. In time, jazz became a universally recognized form of art, and has been said that it is the only real form that has originated from the American soul. Duke, himself, was an elegant man. When the white people looked down on the black man and his music, Duke managed to bring dignity to every one of his performances. Once, the jazz historian Leonard Feather described Duke as, an inch over six feet tall, sturdily built, he had an innate grandeur that would have enabled him to step with unquenched dignity out of a mud puddle. Dukes private life was something of an enigma. Although he had many friends, he never really told them everything about himself. He would often guard his privacy, probably because he had so little of it. When he was alone though, he would almost always be arranging the next tune for the band to play, and was always preparing something for the band to do in the next performance. DukeShow MoreRelatedDuke Ellington Essay746 Words   |  3 PagesDuke Elington Duke Ellington was an American jazz bandleader, composer, and pianist. He is thought of as one the greatest figures in jazz. The French government honored him with their highest award, the Legion of Honor, while the government of the United States awarded him with the highest civil honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He played for the royalty and for the common people and by the end of his fifty-year career, he had played over 20,000 performances worldwide. HeRead MoreEssay On Duke Ellington1506 Words   |  7 PagesDuke Ellington: 1899-1974 Edward â€Å"Duke† Kennedy Ellington was born April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C. Duke Ellington was born into a typical family with average income and growing up, the future musician was home-schooled by his parents. His father James Edward Ellington and mother Daisy Kennedy Ellington were both pianist. His father played operatic arias while parlor songs were his mother’s first choice. It is an interesting fact that Duke is not actually Ellington’s name, but it is only hisRead MoreDuke Ellington Essay1129 Words   |  5 PagesDuke Ellington The Harlem Renaissance was an era full of life, excitement, and activity. The world in all aspects was in gradual recovery from the depression. The world of music was expanding, sharing it’s enthusiasm throughout the world. The evolution of jazz aroused the curiosity of the nation. As Blacks received their freedom, they were able to express themselves as talented individuals. Certain blacks contributed immensely to the era of jazz, for example, Duke Ellington. Ellington enteredRead MoreLouis Armstrong And Duke Ellington804 Words   |  4 Pages Throughout jazz there is a couple of ledges that had their hands in the success of the jazz genre as a whole. Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington are two composters that single handily contributed to the evolution of jazz. Both Louis and Armstrong performed for over fifty years. With this amount of time performing they both touch many eras in jazz. Although Duke was very influential during this time period I like Louie timeline more. Most likely because we are both from New Orleans and I feel closerRead MoreThe Music Of Duke Ellington898 Words   |  4 PagesI attended the Jazz Ensembles Concert, The Music of Duke Ellington, on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at the Griffin Concert Hall, University Center for the Arts. I was not really sure what to expect since I had never experienced Jazz in a concert hall setting, however, I believe I am still able to make an informed and unbiased review. Not only was this my first Jazz concert, but it was also my first time visiting the University Center for the Arts. I was greeted immediately and with a very welcomingRead MoreWho is Duke Ellington?533 Words   |  2 PagesDuke Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 and died on May 24, 1974. He was born in Washington D.C but later on he moved to New York City. He was an American composer, pianist, and bandleader. He had that career for 50 years. He was known as one of the greatest composers. He had more than two thousand songs that where a hit at that time. He began to play the piano as a child his mom played that piano as well. She over saw his education. Duke played professional at age 17. When he moved to New YorkRead MoreEssay on A Portrait Of Duke Ellington By Tracy Frech1748 Words   |  7 PagesPortrait of Duke Ellington By Tracy Frech Duke Ellington is considered to be one of the greatest figures in the history of American music. Edward Kennedy quot;Dukequot; Ellington was born in Washington D.C. on April 29, 1899. His parents were James Edward and Daisy Kennedy Ellington. They raised Duke as an only child, until his sister, Ruth, was born when Duke was sixteen years old. Duke, even as a teenager, had a great talent for music. In the beginning of his musical life, Duke began to takeRead MoreEssay on A Portrait of Duke Ellington by Tracy Frech1779 Words   |  8 PagesA Portrait of Duke Ellington By Tracy Frech Duke Ellington is considered to be one of the greatest figures in the history of American music. Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington was born in Washington D.C. on April 29, 1899. His parents were James Edward and Daisy Kennedy Ellington. They raised Duke as an only child, until his sister, Ruth, was born when Duke was sixteen years old. Duke, even as a teenager, had a great talent for music. In the beginning of his musical life, Duke began to take a promisingRead More Duke Ellington: An American Legacy Essays1818 Words   |  8 Pages Duke Ellington: An American Legacy nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Where would music be had it not been for the men that stepped before him. The Motzarts and Beethovens, who wrote the music that today is known as the classics. These men were naturals in their own right, but these people wrote their music in the 17th and 18th century. Many people dont realize all of the changes that music had to go through between that period of music and the present day. One such musician stands alone at the topRead MoreAlvin Ailey And The Civil Rights Movement1233 Words   |  5 Pagesactivist whose work focused on the narrative of the African American during the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement. Informed and inspired by black church services, gospel music, and everything spiritual, the collaborations between him and Duke Ellington come as no surprise. Ellington’s career also focused on depicting â€Å"the character and mood and feeling of [his] people†, except he executed this artistry through musicianship in composing, conducting, songwriting, and bandleading. Together, they