Black and Tan Fantasy

Question 1

Describe the Texture in Black and Tan Fantasy: (4)

Answer 1

• Opening and closing sections feature parallel 6ths in trombone and trumpet
• Sustained chordal accompaniment from saxes in the interlude
• Piano texture in Chorus 4= Stride accompaniment
• Melody dominated homophony in chorus 1,2,5,6

Question 2

What is the Structure of Black and Tan Fantasy? (3)

Answer 2

• Head arrangement provided for following improvisation
• Head is a 12 bar blues played 6 times
• Piece concludes with a coda in Bb min

Question 3

What is the Melody in Black and Tan Fantasy? (6)

Answer 3

• Opening head 1-12 is based on ‘The Holy City’
• Sax solo is tonic major for an optimistic feel
• First trumpet solo= bluesy due to notes that clash with diatonic Bb maj
• Piano solo is mostly diatonic with some chromatic passages
• Coda quotes Chopin’s Funeral March
• Miley’s 2nd solo uses trills, repeated notes and restricted pitches

Question 4

Describe the Harmony and Tonality in Black and Tan Fantasy: (6)

Answer 4

• Based on 12 bar blues
• Harmony is diatonic and functional in Head
• More chromatic harmony as the piece progresses
• Harmony includes 7th chords + substitution chords
• Circle of 5ths 84-87
• Coda contains repeated plagal cadences (unusual in jazz)

Question 5

What is the Rhythm and Metre like in Black and Tan Fantasy? (6)

Answer 5

• 4/4 throughout
• Medium/slow tempo throughout
• Trumpet solo in chorus 6 features repeated rhythmic ideas based around triple crotchets
• Piano solo introduces more crotchet movement in bass line and quaver movement in the treble
• Miley’s solo (29) introduces more complex rhythms with triple crotchets and upbeat dotted crotchets.
• Swung rhythm abandoned in coda for somber mood

Question 6

What are the Context and Forces in Black and Tan Fantasy? (7)

Answer 6

• Composed in 1927 by Duke Ellington
• Example of Jungle Style (African Influences)
• Growling (due to Jungle Style)
• New tone colours Big Band line up (reeds+brass)
• Written to exploit the skills of the performers
• Title refers to meeting of races in Cotton Club
• 3 saxes, 2 Trumpets, piano, trombone, banjo, bass, drums