Duke Ellington Research Papers

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he 1940s was a period of creative activity for the Ellington band as significant as the Cotton Club years. With pieces like Concerto for Cootie, Harlem Air Shaft and Cotton Tail, Ellington was exploring new approaches to the blues: the use of dissonant harmonies, unusual combinations of instruments, and variations on standard pop-song forms. Ellington was now a master of condensing more variety, contrast, improvisation and surprise into short works than had ever been attempted in jazz before. One can conclude that his main goals and focuses at this time was acquiring a new sound within music. By 1943 he began a series of annual concerts at Carnegie Hall, which was an indication of how much jazz was now accepted in prestigious western classical concert venues. Ellington used this opportunity to write longer and more ambitious works in several movements, like the epic musical history of African-American life, Black, Brown and Beige. Between 1927 and 1931 the Ellington Orchestra played its most famous residency. At the Cotton Club in Harlem, the band backed ‘jungle’ dance-theatre routines in a variety of shows, part of a new popular interest in African-American culture later known as the Harlem Renaissance. During the Cotton Club years, the Ellington band…show more content…
Being an African American Studies major, I can see how Ellington’s life was sort of the glue that bonded Blacks together. Because oppression was at its prime during the 1900s, one could see how music was an outlet for African Americans to experience a sense of freedom. Although I may not be doing much music related projects in my career of Social Welfare, I have learned a great deal that can drive me into being the best Social Worker I can be. The simple quotes he states for example, “a problem is a chance for you to do your best” and “there are two kinds of worries” are great encouragements to motivate me in times of

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