Analysis Of Jazz Great Duke Ellington's Swing Orchestration

Edward Kennedy Ellington is a legendary American jazz composer and pianist.The first musician to appear on the cover of Time Magazine,Ellington,along with fellow musicians Count Basie,Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman,made enormous contributions to jazz.He is the most influential big band music pioneer.He is particularly well regarded for his contributions to swing music.Among the top composers in America at the time,Ellington composed for a variety of instruments,showcasing the talent of each musician and creating a wonderful harmonic blend.During his fifty-year career as a big band leader,he created thousands of works,ranging from small standard jazz songs to large-scale soundtracks,operas,music for Broadway shows,church music and orchestral works.His musical compositions laid the foundation for modern jazz.This paper analyzes Ellington's swing music orchestration and pianistic techniques,and includes an overview of the legend's life as well as a close look(instrumentation,harmony,melody,tone and rhythm)at two specific works — “East Saint Louis Toodle-oo” and “Satin Doll,” shedding light on unique characteristics that stand Ellington apart and make him a true legend.