Bringing alive the music of Duke Ellington

Transcriptions by Michael Kilpatrick

Someone

This vehicle for three of Ellington’s lyrical soloists, Johnny Hodges, Lawrence Brown and Ray Nance, first appeared in 1942 under the title of Someone, although it did resurface in a revised form well over a decade later, as The Sky Fell Down, featuring just Ray Nance. It is said that Nance was always particularly fond of this work and would play it to himself often.

Ellington employs the subtle use of symmetry: rather than simply assigning a whole chorus to each soloist, the first and last choruses are mirror images of each other. Johnny Hodges presents the first 16 bars, followed by Lawrence Brown. Ray Nance solos over the entire second (Strayhorn) chorus but is followed by Lawrence Brown. Hodges plays out the last half-chorus.The orchestration follows the symmetry of the solos. Strayhorn’s second chorus has more interplay and dynamic climax than Ellington's plunger brass figures and 4-part reed organ figurs, so by sandwiching Strayhorn's work within his original framework, Ellington achieves yet another masterpiece.

Orchestration

Reeds: A A T T B Solos:
Brass:3tpt 3tbn
Rhythm:p b dr g
Vocal:
1st alto
2nd trumpet
1st trombone

Listening Guide

The following recording dates for Someone 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 1942-1944 Classics 867 1042-02-26
The Treasury Shows Vol.2 Storyville 903 9002 1945-04-28
The Collection 46-47 Recordings Hindsight HBDC 501 1946-07-17

Price £35