Symphony in Black

Symphony in Black
Directed by Fred Waller
Written by Milton Hockey, Fred Rath
Starring Duke Ellington
Music by Duke Ellington
Cinematography William O. Steiner
Distributed by Paramount
Release date(s) 13 September 1935
Running time 9 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life (1935) is a musical short film featuring Duke Ellington's extended piece 'A Rhapsody of Negro Life.'[1][2] Billie Holiday made her film debut, and Earl Snakehips Tucker also appeared. Fred Waller directed and Adolph Zukor presented it for Paramount Pictures. The film is divided into four parts; "The Laborers," "A Triangle," "A Hymn of Sorrow" and "Harlem Rhythm."[2] "A Triangle," features solos by Barney Bigard and Joe Nanton, as well as vocals by Holiday.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Tucker, Mark (1993). "The Genesis of "Black, Brown and Beige"". Black Music Research Journal (Center for Black Music Research - Columbia College Chicago) 13 (2): 67–86. ISSN 02763605. http://www.jstor.org/stable/779513. 
  2. ^ a b "Symphony in Black (A Rhapsody of Black Life)". Red Hot Jazz. http://www.redhotjazz.com/sib.html. Retrieved 11 November 2011.