Object Details
Composer
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
Lyricist
George, Don
Collection Creator
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
Collection Citation
Duke Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Scope and Contents
see also Subseries 1.3
55 parts and an indefinite number of scores
I ain't got nothin' but the blues is contained in five folders consisting of 1 eight page conductor score, 1 four page short score and 30 parts in Eb Major concert, 1 published three page piano vocal score in F Major concert, 12 parts in C Major concert, and 1 six page short score and 13 parts in D Major concert -- in ink, pencil and photocopy -- in unidentified hands (DE, BS, ME, Whaley?).
Folder A contains parts in C Major for 5 reeds - Procope, Rabbit, Jimmy, Paul, Harry C; 3 trumpets - Ray, Cook, C. Terry; 3 trombones - Quentin, John S, Britt; bass.
Folder B contains eight page conductor score and parts. Conductor score indicates parts for 5 reeds - alto 1, alto 3, tenor, tenor 4, baritone; 4 trumpets - 1, 2, 3, 4; 3 trombones - 1, 2, 3; bass. Parts in Eb Major for 5 reeds - alto 1, alto 3, tenor 2, tenor 4, baritone; 4 trumpets - Cat, Cook, Mercer, Cootie; 3 trombones - Brown, Buster, Chuck; bass.
Folder C contains published piano vocal score. Lyrics begin "Ain't got the change of a nickel ...".
Folder D contains items in 3 groupings -- (i) Four page short score in Eb Major. Score indicates parts for alto 2, Sears, tenor, baritone, Tricky, Brown, piano. -- (ii) Parts in Eb Major for 2 reeds - alto 3, tenor 1. -- (iii) Parts in Eb Major for 6 reeds - Toby, Rab, Jimmy, tenor 2, Carney, baritone; 6 trumpets - 1, 2, 3, Andy, Ray, Scad; 3 trombones - 1, Jones, Brown.
Folder E contains six page short score and parts in D Major. Score indicates parts for Rab, Proc, Jim, Paul, Carney, Ray, C. Terry, Britt. Parts for 5 reeds - Rab, Proc, Paul, Jim, Carney; 4 trumpets - Ray, Shorty, Terry, Cat; 3 trombones - John, Butter, Britt; bass. -- All items except Folder C from the Duke Ellington Library.
sova.nmah.ac.0301_ref40674
General
Bass part in Folder E (photocopy) is originally noted on the verso of "A hundred dreams for you." Handwriting and other details have been reported based on the notes of David Berger, Andrew Homzy, Dr. Theodore Hudson, Walter van de Leur, and Mark Tucker.
Condition: fair, torn, tape.
Other Title
Nothing but the blues.
Nothin' but the blues.
Ain't got nothin'.
Ain't got nothing but the blues.
But the blues.
Publication
New York, NY, Burke and Van Heusen, Inc., 1944
Topic
Music -- United States -- 20th century
Composer
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
Lyricist
George, Don
See more items in
Duke Ellington Collection
Duke Ellington Collection / Series 1: Music Manuscripts / 1.1: Music Manuscripts / 1.1.10: I
Sponsor
Processing and encoding partially funded by a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.
Biographical / Historical
Folder C from the Presentation Album, vol. D. There appears to be a number from the Duke Ellington Band Book: 152.
Extent
43 Items (copy scores, 32 cm.)
14 Items (mixed score(s) and/or part(s) (holographs), 32 cm.)
1 Item (conductor score and/or parts (Published sheet music), 31 cm.)
1 Item (part (photocopy), 28 cm.)
Date
1944
Container
Box 150 (Series 1), Folder 6-10
Archival Repository
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Type
Archival materials
Conductor scores
Copy scores
Holographs
Manuscripts
Music
Parts (musical)
Photocopies
Piano vocal scores
Published sheet music
Short scores
Collection Rights
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.
Copyright restrictions. Consult the Archives Center at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Paul Ellington, executor, is represented by:
Richard J.J. Scarola, Scarola Ellis LLP, 888 Seventh Avenue, 45th Floor, New York, New York 10106. Telephone (212) 757-0007 x 235; Fax (212) 757-0469; email: rjjs@selaw.com; www.selaw.com; www.ourlawfirm.com.
Genre/Form
Conductor scores
Copy scores
Holographs
Manuscripts
Music
Parts (musical)
Photocopies
Piano vocal scores
Published sheet music
Short scores
Collection Restrictions
Collection is open for research but the original and master audiovisual materials are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
NMAH.AC.0301_ref40674
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8658e8b95-94c0-454e-9e3d-993833a8b459
NMAH.AC.0301
ACAH
Record ID
ebl-1503510514217-1503510514863-1