Duke Ellington and the Development of American Popular Culture

FAIN: BH-50372-10

Fairfield University (Fairfield, CT 06824-5195)
Laura R. Nash (Project Director: March 2010 to June 2012)

Two one-week Landmarks workshops for eighty school teachers on Duke Ellington.

Fairfield University seeks support for a Landmarks of American History and Culture workshop for school teachers that will examine the historical and cultural impact of the music of Duke Ellington, as well as his influence on America’s cultural identity. This workshop will focus on eight of Ellington’s pieces as a means for providing insight on his music, the places in New York City that impacted Ellington’s creative process, and issues of race, class, age, and gender. In support of the Bridging Cultures initiative, this exploratory and experiential workshop will provide participants with the tools to examine how music helped bridge seemingly unbridgeable cultural divides. As part of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to hear from and talk to internationally recognized experts in jazz, cultural history, the impact of media on bridging cultural divides, and the Swing Era, as well as hearing performances from professional jazz musicians.