Three Black Kings: Part III. (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.)
Duke EllingtonPiece Duration: 6:43
About this Piece
(Part III. is 12:36-19:19)
Program Note: "Intended as a 'eulogy for Martin Luther King, Jr.,' Three Black Kings continues Ellington’s series of narrative symphonic pieces – a series that includes Black, Brown, and Beige (1943), Harlem (1950), and Night Creature (1955).
The gospel-inflected third movement, complete with subtle tambourine backbeats, is a fitting tribute to the Reverend Doctor King himself – a man who, as Nina Simone put it in her own music eulogy, 'had seen the mountaintop, and knew he could not stop, always living with the threat of death ahead.'” — Douglas Shadle
Table of Contents:
I. King Balthazar
II. King Solomon
III. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Notable Passages
Description:
The opening bass line outlines a descending third pattern [C A F D], changing every measure, and then walks up to a V-I cadence [G -> C].
- Try singing the solfege for this bass line: "do la fa re sol do"
- Follow along with the Double Bass part as you listen (hint: it's the lowest line in the score video!)
Keywords: Bass Line , Solfege
Description:
Listen for the call and response between the Tenor Saxophone, and the rest of the orchestra!
(Note: This also happens at 15:15-15:40, 17:43-18:04, and 18:24-18:50)
Keywords: Call and Response , Woodwind Instruments
Description:
The Tenor Saxophone improvises over the orchestra. Even though Ellington has notated material for the player, they ornament and improvise their own material throughout!
Keywords: Improvisation - Expressive Elements , Improvisation - Melody , Woodwind Instruments
Description:
Listen to this final improvisation on the Tenor Saxophone, where nothing is notated for the player to base their improvisation off of!
Keywords: Improvisation - Expressive Elements , Improvisation - Melody , Woodwind Instruments