Bringing alive the music of Duke Ellington

Transcriptions by Michael Kilpatrick

Blue Serge

A dark, mysterious work in a minor key, Blue Serge may bring to mind Black and Tan Fantasy with its plagal cadences, mallet percussion, and use of pixie plunger mute combinations in the brass. The theme is stated first by Ray Nance on trumpet, over a haunting trombone background. Like the introduction (clarinet and two muted trumpets), many of the choruses have two floating bars, yielding lengths of six or ten rather than multiples of four. The rich orchestration in the second verse show an astonishing variety of colours and section work all in the space of ten bars, then followed by a 'vocal' trombone solo from Joe Nanton. Ellington's piano and Ben Webster's tenor sax also feature, before a tremendous and evocative full ensemble finale.

Blue Serge can employ either drum brushes or, for greater atmosphere at slower tempos, mallets. The 2nd trombone solo requires the use of a pixie/plunger mute combination in the upper register, in the fashion of Joe 'Tricky Sam' Nanton. Refer to the Swing Notation page of the Notation Guide for more information. A trumpet ensemble figure also requires the use of this mute combination.

Orchestration

Reeds: A A T/Cl T B Solos:
Brass:3tpt 3tbn
Rhythm:p b dr g
Vocal:
3rd trumpet
2nd trombone (pixie/plunger)
piano
2nd tenor

Listening Guide

The following recording dates for Blue Serge have been issued on CD. Some editions may no longer be available - please ask your favourite retailer.

CD Title Label Number Recording date
D.E. & his Orchestra 1940-1941 Classics 837 1941-02-15
The Complete Standard Transcriptions (1941) Soundies SCD 4107 1941-12-03
Carnegie Hall Concerts Dec. 1947 Prestige 2PCD-24075-2 1947-12-27

Price £35