A festival celebrating one of the most legendary and prolific of American composers could be a festival dedicated to the works, versatility and showmanship of Washington, D.C.’s own Edward “Duke ” Ellington.
This month, the Music Center at Strathmore will present “Discover Ellington,” which examines the contributions of this musical giant by delving into a phenomenal career that spanned decades and one that continues to influence performers and composers to this day.
Legendary band leader, Ellington wrote more than 1,500 compositions and made more than 10,000 sound recordings during his long and successful career. Strathmore artistic director Shelley Brown however speaks to the purpose of their celebration in more detail.
| Onstage |
| ‘Discover Ellington’ |
| » Where: The Music Center at Strathmore |
| » When: Through Monday |
| » Info: 301-581-5100, strathmore.org |
“The philosophy of trying to show [Ellington’s] depth of talent in various categories of music is what [audiences] will see unfolding in this festival,” she explained. “As a composer and band leader, he had great compositional skills in a variety of areas.”
The exploration continues Thursday with the solo performance of pianist Robert Glasper. Glasper plays Ellington’s original works from the American Songbook, pieces that define Ellington’s sophisticated arrangements and harmonies.
“It seems to me [that] the obvious way to make sense of the Ellington canon is to look at the categories of music he composed in,” Brown continued. “He himself hated to be labeled — he was a writer of American music, very broadly defined.”
Ellington is honored again in in a concert on Saturday with the Grammy-winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra and Paquito D’Rivera.
People who know Ellington in the strictly jazz or big band genre of 20th century performance and composition, will be pleasantly surprised to know that he wrote “sacred concerts” in his waning years and recorded them for posterity. On Sunday, Strathmore presents “Ellington: A Sacred Concert.”
In what Ellington, himself, called “the most important thing I have ever done,” the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, along with Morgan State University Choir and featured soloists, will honor that legacy by re-creating historical moments from these sacred works.
“Ellington did everything with attention to detail and specific excellence for each form,” Brown said.
The “Discover Ellington” festival illustrates, in lecture and performance, that most remarkable of achievements.
