Ornithology (composition)

Ornithology is a composition of Little Benny Harris and Charlie Parker from 1946, which evolved into the Jazz Standard. Initially, the song was an instrumental number; since 1953, there is a text that was known by Babs Gonzales.

Composition

The piece is based as other bebop heads to the harmonies of a standard, here on How High The Moon: In a solo, the Benny Harris 1945 played to a well-rehearsed by Don Byas version of this title, came a large part of the melody of Ornithology; However, the first eleven tones come from Charlie Parker and first performed in a solo, Parker 1942 improvised Jay McShanns composition The Jumpin 'Blues. The 32 -bar composition is held in the form of a song AA '.

The way to Jazz Standard

Ornithology is part of the classical repertoire of bebop; it was only taken four times Parker 1946-1954.

Ornithology was recorded by such diverse musicians such as Anthony Braxton, Sheila Jordan, Bireli Lagrene, Red Mitchell, Gerry Mulligan, Oscar Peterson, Dave Pike, Bud Powell, Tony Scott, Archie Shepp, Sonny Stitt and George Wallington. It even made ​​recordings with three saxophones (Tenor Conclave, 1992) and a string quartet ( Modern String Quartet, 1986).