Duke Ellington-16

Edward "Duke" Ellington

 

As a child, Edward Ellington was such a snazzy dresser that his friends started calling him "Duke" and that is how the rest of the world knows him today. He was born in Washington, D.C. in 1899 and was more interested in baseball than music!  Even so, Duke took piano lessons as a child and by the age of 14 he was writing his own music --  at 18 he put together his first jazz band. His music is still popular today and his orchestra continues to perform around the world. Even though his music is popularly labeled as "jazz" Duke called it "American Music".  Another interesting fact:  Duke is the first composer to appear on American money (the Washington D.C. quarter)!

Here are some of his most well known works:

Take The "A" Train

Satin Doll

Sacred Music ( a large scale jazz cantata) more than an hour long just listen to the first five minutes beginning at 7:30- as you can see his music is performed the world over! Also listen at 24:30.

Margaret Bonds - 15

Margaret Bonds graduated from Northwestern University with two degrees in music. She started her own music school, and a chamber orchestra that focused on the music of other African-American composers. She is best know for her work with the poet Langston Hughes, setting many of his poems to music. Near the end of her life she composed "Credo" for orchestra and chorus which was performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in 1972. Here are some examples of her music:

Troubled Waters

The Negro Speaks Of Rivers (Poetry of Langston Hughes)

The Bells

George Walker - 14

The first African-American to win the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1996 -- He gave his first piano recital at age 14 in Washington, D.C. and finished college at age 18! George also earned another degree from The Eastman School of music. He has written more than 90 compositions for orchestra, voice, and various instruments and performed all over the world. Here are some examples of his music:

Lilacs I (winner of Pulitzer Prize)

Lilacs II

Lilacs III

Lilacs IV

Icarus in Orbit

Piano Sonata No. 2