Concerto For Cootie, Duke Ellington, Fusion

Question 1

Name the structure

Answer 1

A1, A2, B, A3, modulation, C, modulation/lead in, A4, Coda

Question 2

What is each section based off of?

Answer 2

A new variation of the riff

Question 3

Who was this piece written for and why is he so good

Answer 3

Written for charles melvin cootie Williams, master of both under mute technique and open horn - the concerto explored his range

Question 4

How can the timbre of the trumpet be described?

Answer 4

Produces wonderfully soft growling timbre in mid and lower ranges and a beautifully bright tone playing in the upper register

Question 5

What is the piece characterised by?

Answer 5

Characerised by smooth uninterrupted dialogue between soloist and ensembl

Question 6

How is the initial a motif played

Answer 6

Played with a closed plunger

Question 7

How is C section played

Answer 7

Played with open trumpet in higher register

Question 8

What does the closely woven antiphony mean?

Answer 8

That there is little room for improvisation/embellishment of parts

Question 9

What is the texture of the B section?

Answer 9

Dense antiphonal patterns

Question 10

What key is the piece in?

Answer 10

Begins in F major

Question 11

What happens to the bass in the intro?

Answer 11

The bass moves chromatically down an octave below Bari sax on root notes of descending chords

Question 12

What are the chords in the intro?

Answer 12

Gb7 F9 E7 Eb7 D9 Db9 C9 Cb9

Question 13

What do the reeds do at b6-8 and b9-10

Answer 13

Play parallel block scored harmonies

Question 14

What is A2 harmonisation like?

Answer 14

Same chromatic harmonisation from the end of the intro, extended in trombones with a syncopated phrase ending on the dominant 7th leading to a growling triplet lead into the B section

Question 15

What is the harmonisation of the B section like?

Answer 15

Pure blues set in an 8 bar convention, harmonic plan is I IV7 I

Question 16

What are modulation section chords?

Answer 16

I IV I

Question 17

Where does the modulation take place?

Answer 17

In final bar of modulation section where offbeat chords in brass move in contrary motion to on beat saxes

Question 18

What key is C section in?

Answer 18

Db major

Question 19

What key does the modulation go to?

Answer 19

Modulates back to Fmajor via an Ab dominant 7th and Fmajor 6th

Question 20

What happens in the coda harmonically in the ensemble?

Answer 20

Under Williams growling vibrato the ensemble play the final cadence, the dominant 7th on the minor 2nd (Gb7) resolving to the final F chord with an added major 6th

Question 21

What does Ellington make use of compositionally?

Answer 21

Pianistic, chromatically descending and unrelated chords, often adding major 9ths

Question 22

What is the drumming like?

Answer 22

Gentle and unobtrusive wire brushes provide a steady 4/4 pulse beneath the constantly syncopated movement of solos and ensemble parts.

Question 23

What happens rhythmically in B section?

Answer 23

Has mid bar syncopated phrases in saxes echoed by offbeat chords in brass

Question 24

Which instrument introduces main “A” melodic motif?

Answer 24

Solo trumpet

Question 25

What does the A motif consist of?

Answer 25

7 quavers and moves within the interval of a perfect 4th with the last 3 notes leaving a whole tone relationship before rising to the third degree

Question 26

How is the motif often harmonised?

Answer 26

Harmonised in a succession of parallel, chromatic or dominant 7ths, 9ths or 13ths for the accompanying ensemble

Question 27

Is use of 7ths 9ths and 13ths common?

Answer 27

Yes for the 20s

Question 28

What does the valve trombone do in the intro?

Answer 28

Over chromatic bass part, leads in with an ascending chromatic line followed by descending phrases in ensemble

Question 29

How does the A section begin?

Answer 29

With another statement of A motif with a response from trombones in 3rds with use of bluesy slides

Question 30

How is the A motif modified in section A2?

Answer 30

Motif is modified by 2 bars longer

Question 31

What is B section melody like?

Answer 31

Made up of 3 two bar phrases before last two are extended to lead into A section

Question 32

What is A 3 like?

Answer 32

Repeat of A1

Question 33

What is the soloist during the modulation?

Answer 33

Tacet

Question 34

What is the C section melody like?

Answer 34

2 bar motif played 3 times, slightly varied each time including with glissando

Question 35

A4 melody?

Answer 35

Scurrying ff ascending scale in octave unison for ensemble leads to Williams’ high note triplet interruption with open and closed plunger over dissonant chord in ensemble - dramatic

Question 36

What happens in the coda?

Answer 36

Piece ends quietly with Williams’ sustained tonic faintly growling with a wide vibrato