名人轶事:Duke Ellington: One of the Most Popular Musician

Duke Ellington: One of the Most Popular Musicians of the Twentieth Century

Written by Paul Thompson

(THEME)

VOICE ONE:

I'm Richard Rael.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Ray Freeman with the VOA Special English program, People in America. Every week we tell about a person who was important in the history of the United States. Today, we finish our report about the great jazz musician, Duke Ellington.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

That song is "Take the 'A' Train. " It is like a musical sign that says, "You are listening to Duke Ellington and his orchestra¹. " Music fans around the world know the song is linked closely² to Duke Ellington. Yet they may not know that he did not write it.

Duke Ellington      

"Take the 'A' Train" was written by a close friend and orchestra member, Billy Strayhorn. Billy and Duke had a very close working relationship for almost thirty years. Sometimes, it was difficult to tell which man had written a new song for the orchestra. Members of the group often argued about who had written it . . . Duke or Billy Strayhorn.

VOICE TWO:

Duke Ellington always wrote music. Music experts say he may have written as many as two thousand different songs. He wrote music wherever he went. He wrote late at night. He wrote on the train or bus or airplane when the orchestra traveled. Friends say he wrote music even in eating places while he waited for his food.

Listen to this Ellington song, played by Russell Procope. Procope played the clarinet in the Ellington orchestra for many years. In this song, Procope was able to play his part a different way each time. Ellington let individual players create their own parts. This means it is almost impossible today to reproduce³ the sound of Duke Ellington's orchestra.

The song is called, "Four-Thirty Blues⁴."

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Duke Ellington tried many new and different ways to play music. For example, he put different instruments together in groups that no one had tried before. He also was the first song writer to use a human voice as an instrument.

He wrote music for a singer but no words. The song is called "Creole Love Call. " The singer here is Adelaide Hall.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Duke Ellington was one of the most popular musicians in the twentieth century. Yet, music experts and critics say he was much more important as a song writer and orchestra leader than as a piano player. Billy Strayhorn once said, "Duke plays piano. But his real instrument is the orchestra. "

The orchestra was Duke Ellington's first love. In later years, when large orchestras⁵ were not popular, Duke often paid his musicians with his own money to keep the group together. To him, the orchestra was everything.   

VOICE ONE:

Duke Ellington always was looking for ways to make his orchestra sound better. Like many song writers, he often took old songs, changed them, and made them new again.

Last week, we played a song called "Concerto⁶ for Cootie. " In later years, a singer named Al Hibbler joined the Ellington orchestra. Duke added words to the song. Then he changed its name to "Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me. " Both songs were major hits for the orchestra. Listen as Al Hibbler sings, "Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me. "

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Duke Ellington and his orchestra played around the world before millions of people. More than eight hundred musicians played with the Ellington orchestra at one time or another. After doctors told Duke that he had lung cancer, he continued to perform. One of his last concerts was at Westminster Abbey in London. His orchestra performed religious music.

Duke Ellington was honored⁸ by people around the world. Former president Richard Nixon give him the presidential medal of freedom -- America's highest civilian⁹ honor⁷. Leaders from around the world wrote him letters to thank him for his music.

Duke Ellington died on May twenty-fourth, nineteen seventy-four.

VOICE ONE:

If you really want to know the real Duke Ellington, you must listen to his music. The music he left the world is truly a great gift.

We leave you with Duke Ellington and his orchestra playing like they always did. This recording¹⁰ was made in a room full of people dancing to his music. The place is McElroy's ballroom¹¹ in the city of Portland, Oregon.

It is near the end of the evening. You can hear the crowd in the big room. The people have been dancing and do not want to stop.   

Duke Ellington, sitting at the piano, starts another song. It is his signal to the orchestra. Once again, the Duke Ellington orchestra begins to play "Things Ain't What They Used to Be. "

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

This Special English program was written, produced and directed by Paul Thompson. I'm Ray Freeman.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Richard Rael. Join us again next week at this time for another People in America program on the Voice of America
 

1 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。

2 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

3 reproduce   

v.生育，繁殖，复制，重做

参考例句：

• The machine can reproduce a key in two minutes.这机器能在两分钟内复制一把钥匙。
• The picture will reproduce well.这照片会印得很清楚。

4 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

5 orchestras   

管弦乐队( orchestra的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The orchestras, the choruses, the drama and opera casts, will be cut to pieces. 各个管弦乐队、合唱队、戏剧和歌剧的演员名单都将支离破碎。
• In Indonesia, gamelan orchestras play music on gongs, drums, and xylophones. 印度尼西亚，佳美兰乐队用锣、和木琴演奏音乐。

6 concerto   

n.协奏曲

参考例句：

• The piano concerto was well rendered.钢琴协奏曲演奏得很好。
• The concert ended with a Mozart violin concerto.音乐会在莫扎特的小提琴协奏曲中结束。

7 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

8 honored   

adj.光荣的：荣幸的v.尊敬，给以荣誉( honor的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I hope to be honored with further orders. 如蒙惠顾，不胜荣幸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is a time-honored custom. 这是一个古老的习俗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

10 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

11 ballroom   

n.舞厅

参考例句：

• The boss of the ballroom excused them the fee.舞厅老板给他们免费。
• I go ballroom dancing twice a week.我一个星期跳两次交际舞。