take the a train details

What did Henderson receive degrees in?

Mathematics and chemistry

Where did Henderson receive degrees?

Atlanta

Where did Henderson move to to pursue music?

New York

Who is known as one of the founding fathers of "big band jazz"? Why?

Fletcher Henderson; in part due to using swing style

Who was the arranger of Fletcher Henderson?

Don Redman

What were the 4 primary innovations in the music for swing ensembles by Henderson and Redman?

1) Increasing size of band ("orchestral jazz")

2) Sectional writing / block voicing

3) Call-and-response patterns

4) Using the riff extensively

What are the choirs of the song made up of?

5 saxophones, 3 trumpets, and 3 trombones

What does the rhythm section of contain?

Piano, guitar, string bass, and drum set

Who plays the piano?

Duke Ellington

What do the three sections do during the first chorus?

Each choir stays out of the other sections' way

How do the saxophones play in the first chorus?

Disjunct melody with long, sustained notes

How do the 2 other sections play in the first chorus?

Interject short riffs: each brass riff has its own pattern

Who suggests the brass' patterns are hard to replicate in the first chorus?

Mark Tucker

Where are call-and-response interchanges very clear?

In the third chorus

What effect does the call-and-response interchange in the third chorus create?

Hendersonian effect

Where are the changes borrowed from?

"Exactly Like You" (1930)

Who composed "Exactly Like You"?

Jimmy McHugh

Before the final a section of the third chorus, what intervals were included?

Major and minor second internvals

During the saxophones' opening melody, what is being played chromatically?

3 pitches: G to A flat to A

During the four-measure modulation from C to E flat major, when does a strong accent occur?

Every 3 beats

What modulation occurs during the transition?

C to E flat major

What meter is employed during the transition?

Hemiola effect: written in 4/4, sounds as if in 3/4 (triple duple)

Piano introduction set up:

The right hand plays a five-note riff 4 times, which is comprised of a descending whole tone scale

Who did Strayhorn believe would play the solo trumpet improvisation?

Rex Stewart

What chorus plays the solo trumpet improvisation?

2nd

Why did Rex Stewart not play the solo trumpet improvisation?

He was in a bad temper

Who played the solo trumpet improvisation?

Ray Nance

Who termed Ray Nance's improv the "great trumpet solo of all time"?

Duke Ellington

What form is "Take the 'A' Train"?

AABA 32 bar form

When was "Take the 'A' Train" written?

1941

Who produced "Take the 'A' Train"?

Billy Strayhorn