What is the meaning behind Take the A train?
The title of the song refers to the A line of New York’s subway train service. At the time of the song’s conception, this line ran from Brooklyn, up into Harlem, and then northern Manhattan where it used the express rails. Although traditionally played as an instrumental, ‘Take The A Train’ does have lyrics.
What is the style of Take the A Train by Duke Ellington?
Based loosely on the chordal structure of “Exactly Like You”, the song combines the propulsive swing of the 1940s-era Ellington band with the confident sophistication of Ellington and the black elite who inhabited Sugar Hill in Harlem. The tune is in AABA form, in the key of C, with each section being a lyric couplet.
What is the musical form of take the A train?
“Take The ‘A’ Train” is written in the standard AABA 32-bar song form, which was typical of the Swing Era.
Why was Take The A Train important?
The song brought Ellington and his band financial success, became his “theme” song that he would perform regularly for the rest of his life, and is still one of the most important compositions in all of jazz.
When was Take The A Train Duke Ellington?
1941
Composed by Billy Strayhorn and released in 1941, “Take the ‘A’ Train” became the Duke Ellington orchestra’s signature tune. The February 15, 1941 recording of the song remained on the top charts for seven weeks and is now considered the definitive version.
Did Duke Ellington have his own train?
Ellington rented his own train car so that he and his band members would have a place to sleep and eat when they pulled into segregated towns. He often looked to Washington in his search for new band members. He whetted his own appetite for jazz by catching some of the best acts of the day at the Howard Theater.
What is the form of Take the A Train quizlet?
This chorus is in A-A-B-A form, or thirty-two-bar song form.
Is Take the A Train improvisation?
Duke Ellington’s signature song, “Take the A Train” was written by Billy Strayhorn. It was quite difficult for me to assign a form to this piece and identify various sections, because one of the main elements of Jazz is improvisation.
How did a train get his name?
His name stems from the A Eighth Avenue Express of the New York City Subway, commonly referred to as “the A train”. He has his own brand of beer called Speeding Bullet Ale and his own cereal called Frosted A-Trains.
How did Ellington describe his music?
It was Ellington’s sense of musical drama that made him stand out. His blend of melodies, rhythms and subtle sonic movements gave audiences a new experience—complex yet accessible jazz that made the heart swing.
Who performed Take the A train?
the Duke Ellington Orchestra
“Take the A Train,” the signature tune of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, was recorded on this day in 1941. The song marked the beginning of a decades-long partnership between Ellington and a shy young songwriter named Billy Strayhorn.
When did Duke Ellington write take a train?
Take the ‘A’ Train is a Billy Strayhorn composition that became a signature tune of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and is one of the most famous compositions of the swing era. In 1939, Ellington offered Strayhorn work and sent him money to make the trip to New York City from Pittsburgh.
Who was the composer of take a train?
Genre: Jazz Composer: Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington Take the ‘A’ Train is a Billy Strayhorn composition that became a signature tune of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and is one of the most famous compositions of the swing era. In 1939, Ellington offered Strayhorn work and sent him money to make the trip to New York City from Pittsburgh.
How did Duke Ellington get the nickname the Duke?
Growing up in a middle-class family that emphasized good manners and spotless dress, the habits instilled in him would later earn him the stand-alone nickname “The Duke.” In 1941, New York City’s newest subway line – the A train – was bringing people from Harlem into the heart of the city and connecting the long-stretching Manhattan Island.
Who was the publisher of take a train?
Around this “Take the ‘A’ Train” was rolling up the charts. The song would bring huge financial success to a pioneering music publishing venture, Tempo Music Inc., located at 1775 Broadway in New York City and owned by Ellington.