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Glenn Miller A biography

Glenn Miller A biography. By: Ty Rowley Music 1010-043 Instructor: Craig Ferrin. Early Years. Born on March 1, 1904 In Clarinda, Iowa Parents were Elmer and Mattie Lou Miller Given Name was Alton Glenn Miller. Birth Place. Clarinda, City Hall. Family moved to Tryon, Nebraska at age 4.

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Glenn Miller A biography

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  1. Glenn MillerA biography By: Ty Rowley Music 1010-043 Instructor: Craig Ferrin

  2. Early Years • Born on March 1, 1904 • In Clarinda, Iowa • Parents were Elmer and Mattie Lou Miller • Given Name was Alton Glenn Miller Birth Place Clarinda, City Hall

  3. Family moved to Tryon, Nebraska at age 4 • Mother played organ and • sang with Kids • Glenn’s 1st musical instrument • was a mandolin

  4. Family moved to Grant City, Missouri at age 9 • At age 10 Glenn received his • 1st trombone and played in the • local town band

  5. As a teenager, his family moved again to Fort Morgan, Colorado • Continued playing his music • Played football in High school and was selected best • left end in Colorado. • Became acquainted with big band music. • Missed his own graduation because he was playing in a band.

  6. After Graduation, Glenn began his professional pursuit In music. • Spent next 2 years playing odd jobs • Signed 1st contract with Boyd Senter. • Earned money to pay for College playing • for band leader Holly Moyer. • College only lasted 2 years because he • wanted to spend all his time with music. • Moved to LA and played for Ben Pollack.

  7. Moved to New York in his late 20’s • Married his college sweetheart • Helen Burger. • Adopted a Son and Daughter

  8. 1932 Worked as manager and arranger for a band called • Smith Ballew. • 1934 Helped to organized the Dorsey Brother’s 1st big • full time big Band. • 1st recording under his own name.

  9. 1937 formed his own band under his own name • but ran into financial troubles. • 1938 started another band and this time was • a success. • 1939 Became regulars on a radio show • 1940’s Appeared in 2 movies.

  10. Lives are changed. • 1941 Pearl Harbor is attacked • 1942 Glenn tries to join the Navy and • is rejected

  11. 1942 Writes letter to Army Brigadier • General Charles Young to try to • convince the General to let him • enlist • Is accepted into the Army Specialist • Corps as a captain • Walks away from contracts totaling • Over $20000 a week to serve • His country

  12. Modernized Army music • Put together 50 member band • Traveled from state to state • recruiting and selling war bonds • 1944 traveled to England to build • troops morale.

  13. In less than a year his band held over 800 performances Both in person and on the radio.

  14. His Death • December 15, 1944 left England for a Christmas performance • in Paris, France • Never reached Paris. • Declared missing in action. Memorial in his home town

  15. His Accomplishments • 1939 he had 17 top 10 hits • 1940 31 top 10 hits • 1941 11 top 10 hits • 1942 11 top 10 hits • Including 23 Number One Records By Comparison Elvis had 18 number one’s Beatles had 20 number one’s

  16. Awards • The Bronze Star Medal • The World War II Victory Medal • The American Campaign Medal • The European, African and Middle Eastern • Campaign Medal • The Marksman Badge with Carbine and Pistol Bars.

  17. A tribute to Glenn Miller in Arlington National Cemetery

  18. The following are listening guides and a short history of a few of Glenn Miller’s personal compositions or arrangements.

  19. Moonlight Serenade • 1st million seller • Written in 1935 • Original title was “Now I lay me Down to Weep” • High as number 13 on billboard Charts • Finished year as 5th most popular song of the year

  20. Moonlight Serenade • 0:00 There is no intro as the song moves right into Section A with a Jazz rhythm • and the dynamics are somewhat loud. The melody is being played by the • clarinet with the brass playing the harmony. • 0:29 The Dynamics begin to drop off as the brass pauses. • 0:36 The volume rises again as the trumpet play • 0:40 The trumpet picks up with a solo bridge • 0:45 Section A begins to repeat and the Dynamics become loud again. • 1:12 Dynamics taper off as the horns begin to drop out. • 1:20 The horns are reintroduced • 1:25 the saxophone plays a solo and timbre becomes very clear as Section B • begins with the Saxophone and the stings. • 1:55 Section A begins to repeat itself • 2:39 All the wind instruments move into a cadence with the harmony and melody

  21. Sold America • Composed in 1938 • 1st performed a year later due to conflict with sponsors • Jingle was taken from Lucky Stike Cigarettes Ad • Miller was currently under contract with Chesterfield • Cigarettes

  22. Sold American • 0:00 Intro begins with the trombone solo and trumpet and clarinet sounding in. The • dynamics begin soft with a thick texture. • 0:16 the flute sounds in. • 0:24 the dynamics get softer. • 0:28 the melody begins with the trombone leading as the dynamics increase considerably. • 0:36 Men’s chorus in unison sound in. • 0:45 Men’s chorus repeats • 0:47 The rhythm increases • 1:19 The Trombone begins to play a variation • 1:48 The Trumpet Plays a variation • 2:00 The intro begins again as the dynamics become softer again. • 2:29 The melody is repeated • 2:48 Ends with cadence of percussions and trumpet

  23. Doing the Jive • Composed by Miller and Chummy MacGregor in 1937 • Arranged by Glenn • Started a new dance • Some lyrics were created by the 2 composers talking • back and forth. • 2nd recording included Ted Berneke doing the dialog • with Miller

  24. Doing the Jive • 0:07 The piece begins with a 4 measure introduction with trumpet and clarinet. The dynamics are • loud with a jazzy beat. It's interesting to compare the sharp sound of the trumpets against the • smooth sound of the clarinets. • 0:13 Melody A continues same instrumentation with a trumpet/clarinet question-and-answer 8 • measure motif. • 0:24 Melody A (same) • 0:35 Melody B gives a nice change with the same instruments and circles right back to first melody. • 0:46 Melody A (same as before) with saxophone in background. • 0:57 Interlude softening in dynamics • 1:02 Melody A continues with a vocal addition, saxophone and trumpet accents. Softer dynamics. • 1:13 Vocal Melody A repeats • 1:24 Vocal Melody B same as above with vocal. Interesting octave jumps in vocal. • 1:36 Vocal Melody A again. • 1:47 Interlude with swing rhythm leading into Chant. Fun clarinet recitative. • 1:55 Chant, clap • 2:31 Boys sing Melody A in long-short rhythm. More of a chant. Percussion and bass violin. • 2:41 Boys sing Melody A Singing the same as the vocal soloist previously accompanied by percussion • and bass violin. • 2:52 Boys sing Melody B • 3:03 Boys sing Melody A with a different effect in percussion. • 3:14 Ending with trumpets. • 3:20 Ends. Great dancing music!

  25. In the Mood • Originally written in 1935 by Joe Garland • Garland gave the song to Miller in 1940 • Miller arranged the song to be 3 minutes instead of 9 • Remained on charts at #1 for 13 weeks • Considered to be his greatest hit

  26. In the Mood • 0:00 Intro with sax and trumpet. Loud dynamics. • 0:11 Melody A enters with softer sound in the saxophone section. Nice smooth, jazzy • rhythm. • 0:28 Melody A plays again. • 0:46 Melody B continues with saxophone and muted brass. • 0:57 Melody B same • 1:09 A variation with solo saxophone • 1:21 A different variation with saxophones • 1:33 interlude • 1:39 B variation instrumentation • 2:02 Melody A Return. At the end of this section there is a note hold with silence in other • instruments. • 2:22 A softer dynamic of the same Melody A withhold in melody instruments. • 2:45 softer yet • 3:05 loud A Nice saxophone melody with trumpet accents. • 3:20 final ascent • 3:32 Cadence with percussion

  27. Bibliography (n.d.). Retrieved from Historynet.com: http://www.historynet.com/glenn-miller.htm/2 (n.d.). Retrieved from University of Colorado Music Archives: http://music.colorado.edu/departments/amrc/gma/meet-glenn-miller/ (n.d.). Retrieved from Examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/swing-and-big-band-in-national/moonlight-serenade-glenn-miller-s-greatest-tune (n.d.). Retrieved from Wikepedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sold_American Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/articles/Glenn-Miller-37990 Glenn Miller History. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.glennmiller.org/history.html Glenn Miller's History. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.glennmiller.com/index.php Starpulse. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Miller,_Glenn/Biography/

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