Today is the fiftieth anniversary of 29 May, 1970, when Duke Ellington and his Orchestra appeared at Mount Abbey Angel Library, Mount Angel, Oregon in a performance commemorating the dedication of the library. From David Palmquist's Duke - Where and When site...
9 p.m. concert by Ellington and his orchestra, premiering a new work by Ann Henry, arranged by Ron Collier at the dedication of the Abbey's new library.
Collier conducted the Ellington orchestra, Ms Henry and a small choir in his arrangement of a three movement composition by Ann Henry, "Pockets: It's Amazing When Love Goes On Parade."
…An UPI wire story datelined Mt. Angel, published in the Eugene Register-Guard 1970-05-27 p.3-B, announced Ellington's band would perform on the Friday, architects from around the world would tour the building on the Saturday, and the Portland Junior Symphony would perform Saturday afternoon.
The Oregonian reported Ms Henry had toured with Ellington (additional research is needed), and went to Toronto and New York for the rehearsals. Ms Henry had had a career in music and dance until stricken by multiple sclerosis after which she became the Abbey's composer-in-residence. Stratemann says the band rehearsed her composition in Toronto, and this was the only time it was performed by the Ellington orchestra.
The April 21, 1970 contract between Mount Angel Abbey Library and Duke Ellington, Inc. provided for a 2 hour concert with 13 musicians including the leader for $5,000, half payable on the execution of the contract and half in cash or by certified cheque the day of, but before, the concert. A rider required Mount Abbey Library to pay:
· first class airfare for Duke from Cincinnati to St. Benedict, and then to Chicago
· first class airfare for Ron Collier from Toronto to St. Benedict and return
· economy airfare for 17 musicians and staff of the orchestra from Cincinnati to St. Benedict, and then to Chicago
· Ron Collier's arranging fee, either directly to him or to Duke Ellington, Inc.
·
While the Abbey has no record of their activity the rest of the weekend, the title in the finding aid for the Smithsonian's Ellington collection for Series 2, Box 16, Folder 33 "Mount Angel Abbey (Oregon) Library Dedication May 31, 1970" suggests Ellington remained in Oregon until the Sunday. This is not confirmed. While the Smithsonian folder label is dated May 31, in reply to the question Is there any indication in this folder that Ellington and/or his orchestra stayed all 3 days?, Smithsonian Reference Services volunteer C. Windheuser reviewed the contents in 2016 and wrote
“You are correct - program for event confirms Duke's concert was Friday May 29.”
I am very pleased to include notes on the video written by Jack Chambers, a leading light of the Toronto Duke Ellington Society and author of the book Sweet Thunder: Duke Ellington's Music in Nine Themes, as a commentary on the video presentation which follows.
Jack writes:
Duke Ellington at Mount Angel Abbey, St. Benedict, Oregon, 29 May 1970
Dedication of the new $1.2m library designed by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto
VIDEO <2 – Duke greets, band plays on Vimeo>
Duke greets the audience (“the kids in the band… do love you madly”).
Request for Harlem, DE makes long intro while band finds the music
Harlemto 16:47
acknowledges Rufus Jones d, Harold Ashby cl, Harry Carney bs, Julian Priester and Booty Wood tb, Freddie Stone tp, Cat Anderson tp, Cootie Williams tp, 1stalto illegible
Meditations piano solo 18:47 to 21:27
22:06 DE intro Ron Collier: “And now I’d like to have you meet the great Canadian composer and internationally celebrated orchestrator and an incomparable conductor, Mr. Ron Collier. He orchestrated and will conduct the new work which is to be presented by Ann Henry, the new work Pockets. This is Ron Collier.”
25:19 piano intro
26:37 Ann Henry + seminarians “Look up, love is comin’”
29:00 ballad tempo Ann Henry + seminarians
30:13 “It’s amazin’! when love goes on parade”
32:00 “only love lets me try… and keeps comin’ back to me. Beautiful!”
33:35 “love keeps comin’ back to me”
36:35 country and western sounding lyric
40:45 “don’t look for me, my parade is over”
43:44 APPLAUSE
44:10 orchestra cond Collier quiet mood—woodwinds, alto sax lead?
47:54 Ann Henry + seminarians ballad
49:00 orch with Russell Procope cl
50:45 new movement?
52:17 Ann Henry + seminarians “Love is on parade”
54:20 orch with vocalese
56:55 raunchy beat, vocal Ann “People are playin’ at love”
Ann + seminarians “Walk in on the one who falls in love”
62:27 TAPE ENDS INCOMPLETE
Time: “Pockets – It’s Amazing When Love Goes on Parade” 37:08 (on video)
Ellington compilation (short) from Third Angle on Vimeo.
2 - Duke greets, band plays from Third Angle on Vimeo.
Duke Ellington playing at the 1970 dedication of the library.
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