Duke Ellington’s Orchestra and singer Ella Fitzgerald perform Ellington’s song “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” in 1965

Mini-Essay #5—Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald—Due Monday, May 9, 2022
• “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” Duke Ellington Orchestra with Ella Fitzgerald
singing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myRc-3oF1d0
These mini-essay assignments are very short (250-500 words, or 1-2 pages) reports mostly on what you hear
in one or two pieces of music. I expect you to use as precise musical language as possible when describing
the music, using the vocabulary of elements of music, including words such as “monophonic,” “conjunct,”
“forte,” “polyphonic,” “fast, medium, or slow tempo” “triple meter,” “atonal,” “repeated notes….” What is
the title of the piece? What is the genre? Who, if known, composed it? When and where, if known, was it
composed? What instruments or voices is it scored for? Mention the overall mood of a piece. If there is a text,
what is the text about? What is the narrative trajectory of each piece? Did you like the piece(s)? Some of the
essays may ask you to compare two pieces, or to compare an assigned piece with a piece of your choice. I
suggest writing as if you are describing the piece to an intelligent friend. Please do not write it assuming your
reader (your professor!) already knows anything.
All the examples will be on YouTube. Most of this music will be new and unfamiliar to you, so listen to each
piece at least twice to get to know it.
Here’s what to do:
1) Listen at least twice to Duke Ellington’s Orchestra and singer Ella Fitzgerald perform Ellington’s
song “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” in 1965 (song first composed 1931).
2) The chorus of Ellington’s song is in AABA song form. Your assignment is to
(a) who, what (name of song, genre), when, where this song was written;
(b) what sort of ensemble you are hearing with what instruments or voices;
(c) describe, to the best of your abilities, how many time the chorus of the song is presented, whether
with or without the singer. Describe what is the focus of each of the “choruses” (singer? piano? the
band? a solo instrument?);
(d) what is the best thing about the performance?
This is NOT a research assignment; it is a LISTENING assignment. I expect your OWN reaction to the
pieces, not something lifted from Wikipedia or elsewhere. Use our music elements vocabulary, but you may
have to go beyond this, so be creative.
6) Write your essay in your computer’s word processor. Give it a title and introduce the piece to your reader.
See above for some suggestions about how to approach your description. Please DOUBLE-SPACE so that
your professor has room to write comments between lines and be sure your NAME is on the essay.
5) Upload your essay as a PDF, DOC, or DOCX file to the Assignment on Blackboard.
6) PLEASE, no plagiarizing other writers from ANY source. I can always tell! The main point of this
assignment is to sharpen your listening and critical skills. I far prefer your own voice and thinking, no
matter how imperfect, to lifting other people’s ideas. And if I detect plagiarism, you will get a failing
grade on the assignment.
7) I will correct it and post a grade on Blackboard’s Grades.

Duke Ellington’s Orchestra and singer Ella Fitzgerald perform Ellington’s song “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” in 1965

CITATION