Composer of the Week: Billy Strayhorn

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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: Billy Strayhorn (1915-67): 315 Convent Avenue

315 Convent Avenue

Billy Strayhorn (1915-67)

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Billy Strayhorn (1915-67), 315 Convent Avenue

Donald Macleod assesses the impact New York had on American jazz musician Billy Strayhorn.

Donald Macleod follows American jazz musician’s exploits after he cuts free and heads to New York to work for Duke Ellington.

Donald Macleod follows the American jazz musician’s exploits after he cuts free and heads to New York to work for Duke Ellington.

'The biggest human being who ever lived, a man with the most majestic artistic stature.' So began Duke Ellington's eulogy on Billy Strayhorn. 
A life cut short at just 51, Strayhorn's funeral on 5 June 1967 drew a line on a musical relationship that had continued for almost 30 years. During that time, Duke Ellington had never produced a formal contract for Strayhorn's services, yet virtually every performance and every recording session done by the Duke and his orchestra included original compositions and arrangements done by Strayhorn. 

The band's sig tune, Take the A Train, is one of a number of works which were originally registered as being Duke Ellington's. While not an unheard of practice, this neither reflected Strayhorn's importance within the Ellington enterprise, nor could it be regarded as advantageous to his reputation as a composer. It's possible a significant factor from Strayhorn's perspective wasn't musical. Remaining out of the limelight enabled him to lead an openly homosexual life in an age of strong prejudice.

Taking five key environments across the week, Donald Macleod builds a picture of the contributory factors supporting Strayhorn's development as a composer and his extraordinary association with Ellington.

According to a close friend, it was only a matter of time before Billy Strayhorn’s talent was recognised. That moment happened when his path crossed with Duke Ellington. Strayhorn was quick to discover an exciting new world of opportunity in the Big Apple. 

Strayhorn: Snibor
Duke Ellington and his Orchestra 

Strayhorn: Tonk
Billy Strayhorn, piano
Duke Ellington, piano 

Strayhorn: Passion Flower 
Johnny Hodges, saxophone 

Strayhorn: Your Love has faded 
Johnny Hodges, alto saxophone
with members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra 
Billy Strayhorn, conductor

Strayhorn: Three and Six 
Johnny Hodges, alto saxophone 
with members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra 
Billy Strayhorn, conductor 

Ted Grouya, Edmund Anderson, arr. Strayhorn: Flamingo 
Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra 
Billy Strayhorn, piano 
Herb Jeffries, vocals 

Strayhorn: Chelsea Bridge 
Joe Lovano, tenor saxophone 
Hank Jones, piano 
George Maaz, bass 
Paul Motian, drums 

Strayhorn, Ellington: The Perfume Suite
Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra 
Al Hibbler, vocals
Duke Ellington, piano 

Strayhorn: Take the A Train 
Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars

Composer of the Week: Billy Strayhorn (1915-67)

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Music: Jazz & Blues: Jazz

Donald Macleod looks at the life and work of American jazz musician Billy Strayhorn.

Donald Macleod looks at the life and work of American jazz musician William Thomas 'Billy' Strayhorn.

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Composer of the Week

Billy Strayhorn (1915-67)

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