Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the William Russo Transcription and Arrangement of Duke Ellington's First Concert of Sacred Music, ca. 1967-68

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0406
Creators:
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
Russo, William, 1928-2003
Dates:
circa 1967-1968
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.5 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
William Russo Transcription and Arrangement of Duke Ellington's First Concert of Sacred Music consists of the full conductor score, orchestral parts, and choral parts to "In the Beginning God," "Tell Me It's the Truth," "Come Sunday," "The Lord's Prayer," "Will You Be There?" "Ain't But the One," and "David Danced." The transcription and arrangement were created by Professor Russo, who spent some time working with Ellington on the project during the late sixties or early seventies.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged into one series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
William Russo was the Director of the Contemporary American Music Program at Columbia College, Chicago. Active in music from 1947 until his death in 2003, he toured Europe as the leader of a quintet; lived in London, where he conducted the London Jazz Orchestra and worked with the BBC; and lived and taught in New York and Chicago. Russo was noted in the fifties as a composer of experimental music for Stan Kenton's orchestra and Third Stream Music for the Russo orchestra. He has been a trombonist, composer, arranger, and conductor.

Administration

Author
Deborra Richardson
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials were donated to the Archives Center by Prof. Russo during a January, 1991 conference of the International Association of Jazz Educators held in Washington, D.C.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Deborra Richardson, archivist.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
William Russo Transcription and Arrangement of Duke Ellington's First Concert of Sacred Music, 1967-1968, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

More Information

General

General
Russo stated that Duke Ellington loaned him the music in 1967-1968.

Related/Analytical Title

Related/Analytical Title
In the Beginning God
Tell Me It's the Truth
The Lord's Prayer
Ain't But the One
First Sacred Concert


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Conductors -- 20th century Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Transcriptions Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Choruses, Sacred (Mixed voices) with instrumental ensemble Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Musicians -- 20th century Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Choral music Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Parts (musical) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Church music Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts -- Music -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scores Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Columbia College (Chicago). Contemporary American Music Program Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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