Object Details
Composer
Ellington, Mercer Kennedy, 1919-1996 (musician)
Lyricist
Persons, Ted
Arranger
Jackson, J. Calvin
Collection Creator
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
Collection Citation
Duke Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Scope and Contents
111 parts and an indefinite number of scores
Things ain't what they used to be is contained in six folders consisting of 2 parts in C Major concert, 7 parts in Bb Major concert, 1 published two page piano vocal score, 1 published part and 5 parts in Eb Major concert, and 1 four page short score and 96 parts in Db Major concert -- in ink, pencil and photocopy -- in unidentified hands (DE, Whaley, Tizol, Harper, Henderson, others?).
Folder A contains parts in Eb Major for 1 reed - tenor; horn; trumpet.
Folder B contains piano vocal score and published part in Eb Major, and short score and parts in Db Major. Piano vocal score lyrics begin "Got so weary of bein' nothin' ...". Published part for piano. Short score indicates parts for altos, tenor, baritone, trumpets, trombones. Short score appears incomplete. Parts in Db Major for 4 reeds - alto 1, alto 3, tenor, baritone; piano.
Folder C contains parts in 4 groupings -- (i) Parts in Bb Major for 3 reeds - Otto, Chauncey, Carney; 1 trumpet - Wallace; 3 trombones - Tricky, Brown, Tizol. Parts subtitled "Intro." -- (ii) Parts in Db Major for 1 reed - Otto (2); 2 trumpets - Wally, Ray; 1 trombone - Brown (2). -- (iii) Parts in Db Major for 4 horns - 1, 2, 3, 4; bass; voice. Part for voice does not include lyrics. -- (iv) Parts in Db Major for 5 reeds - Proc, alto 2, tenor 1, tenor 2, tenor 3; 4 trumpets - Shorty, 2, 3, 4; 2 trombones - 2, 3.
Folder D contains parts in 3 groupings -- (i) Parts in Db Major for 2 reeds - Proc, baritone; 5 trumpets - 1, 2, Nathan, Cooty, Herb (2); 1 trombone - Jones; bass. Parts appear to reflect different arrangements of the piece. -- (ii) Parts in Eb Major for 2 reeds - alto, baritone. -- (iii) Parts in C Major (?) for unidentified bass instrument (trombone?); unidentified instrument. Part for unidentified instrument appears incomplete.
Folder E contains parts in Db Major for 11 reeds - piccolo (2), flute, oboe 1, oboe 2, clarinet 1, clarinet 2, clarinet 3, bass clarinet, bassoon 1, bassoon 2, contrabassoon; 4 horns - 1, 2, 3, 5; 3 trumpets - 1 (2), 3, 4; 3 trombones - 1, 2, 3; tuba; 2 violins - A/B (2); viola (2); cello (2); bass (2); drums; vibraharp.
Folder F contains parts in Db Major for 5 reeds - Rab, Otto (2), Jimmie (2), Sears, Carney (2); 5 trumpets - Taft, Scad (2), Anderson, Ray, Cooty; 4 trombones - Jones (3), Tricky, Brown (4); Butter (2). -- All items except trumpet part in Folder A, part for Otto in Folder C, grouping ii, Folder D, grouping i, and Folder F from the Duke Ellington Library.
sova.nmah.ac.0301_ref52158
General
Handwriting and other details have been reported based on the notes of David Berger, Andrew Homzy, Dr. Theodore Hudson, Walter van de Leur, Wayne Shirley, and Dr. Mark Tucker.
Condition: fair, torn, tape, stained, worn.
Other Title
Things ain't.
Things.
Serenade to a P. & P.
Publication
New York, NY, Tempo Music, Inc., 1943
Topic
Music -- United States -- 20th century
Composer
Ellington, Mercer Kennedy, 1919-1996 (musician)
Lyricist
Persons, Ted
Arranger
Jackson, J. Calvin
See more items in
Duke Ellington Collection
Duke Ellington Collection / Series 1: Music Manuscripts / 1.1: Music Manuscripts / 1.1.20: T / Things Ain't What They Used To Be
Sponsor
Processing and encoding partially funded by a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.
Biographical / Historical
Remaining items from the Mercer Ellington Library. There appear to be numbers from the Duke Ellington Band Book: 33, 54.
Extent
1 Item (mixed score(s) and/or part(s) (holograph), 34 cm.)
3 Items (parts (photocopies), 33 cm.)
39 Items (copy scores, 32 cm.)
38 Items (parts (photocopies), 32 cm.)
9 Items (manuscripts, 32 cm.)
10 Items (copy scores, 31 cm.)
1 Item (manuscript, 31 cm.)
1 Item (part (photocopy), 30 cm.)
2 Items (conductor score and/or parts (Published sheet music), 28 cm.)
9 Items (parts (photocopies), 28 cm.)
Date
1943
Archival Repository
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Type
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Copy scores
Holographs
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
Manuscripts -- Music -- 20th century
Copy scores
Holographs
Music
Parts (musical)
Photocopies
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_ref52158
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep82b6f66b7-eb87-4a2c-b3e5-4cd4683e7433
NMAH.AC.0301
ACAH
Record ID
ebl-1560371854247-1560371857278-2