It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing [music]
odd: label: General
content: Folder F also contains a letter dated 1960/04/08 from Bill Mathieu to Ellington giving rehearsal suggestions pertaining to his arrangement. A part for "Case of the blues" is noted on the verso of the manuscript score in Folder K. Handwriting and other details have been reported based on the notes of David Berger, Andrew Homzy, Dr. Theodore Hudson, Walter van de Leur, and Dr. Mark Tucker.
label: General
content: Condition: fair, torn, tape, brittle.
label: Other Title
content: IDMAT.
label: Other Title
content: Don't mean.
label: Other Title
content: That thing.
label: Other Title
content: Don't mean a thing.
label: Other Title
content: Dmat towa.
label: Other Title
content: That swing.
label: Publication
content: New York, NY, Gotham Music Service, Inc., 1932
name: label: Composer
content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
label: Arranger
content: Collier, Ron
label: Arranger
content: Mathieu, Bill
label: Collection Creator
content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
topic: label: Topic
content: Music -- United States -- 20th century
creator: label: Composer
content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
label: Arranger
content: Collier, Ron
label: Arranger
content: Mathieu, Bill
setName: label: See more items in
content: Duke Ellington Collection
label: See more items in
content: Duke Ellington Collection / Series 1: Music Manuscripts / 1.1: Music Manuscripts / 1.1.10: I / It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Folder N from the Presentation Album, vol. D. All other items from the Mercer Ellington Library. There appear to be numbers from the Duke Ellington Band Book: 33, 34, 35, 48.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Item (mixed score(s) and/or part(s) (holograph), 35 cm.)
label: Extent
content: 12 Items (mixed score(s) and/or part(s) (holographs), 32 cm.)
label: Extent
content: 129 Items (copy scores, 32 cm.)
label: Extent
content: 18 Items (manuscripts, 32 cm.)
label: Extent
content: 12 Items (parts (photocopies), 32 cm.)
label: Extent
content: 1 Item (copy score, 31 cm.)
label: Extent
content: 2 Items (conductor score and/or parts (Published sheet music), 31 cm.)
label: Extent
content: 9 Items (mixed score(s) and/or part(s) (holographs), 31 cm.)
label: Extent
content: 1 Item (copy score, 30 cm.)
label: Extent
content: 7 Items (parts (photocopies), 28 cm.)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1932
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Conductor scores
label: Type
content: Copy scores
label: Type
content: Holographs
label: Type
content: Music
label: Type
content: Parts (musical)
label: Type
content: Photocopies
label: Type
content: Piano conductor scores
label: Type
content: Piano vocal scores
label: Type
content: Published sheet music
label: Type
content: Short scores
label: Type
content: Manuscripts
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Conductor scores
label: Genre/Form
content: Copy scores
label: Genre/Form
content: Holographs
label: Genre/Form
content: Music
label: Genre/Form
content: Parts (musical)
label: Genre/Form
content: Photocopies
label: Genre/Form
content: Piano conductor scores
label: Genre/Form
content: Piano vocal scores
label: Genre/Form
content: Published sheet music
label: Genre/Form
content: Short scores
label: Genre/Form
content: Manuscripts -- Music -- 20th century
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: 178 parts and an indefinite number of scores

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing is contained in sixteen folders consisting of 1 seventeen-page conductor score and 18 parts in a minor concert, 2 published two-page piano vocal scores in g minor concert, 1 one-page short score, 1 two-page piano conductor score and 23 parts in c minor concert, 1 five-page short score, 5 two-page short scores, 1 one-page short score and 112 parts in f minor concert, 14 parts in bb minor concert, and 2 two-page short scores and 11 parts in eb minor concert -- in ink, pencil and photocopy -- in unidentified hands (DE, BS, Whaley, Tizol, Mathieu, others?).

Folder A contains 1 five-page short score in f minor. Short score indicates parts for 5 saxes, Jimmy, Taft, Baker, Wallace, Sandy, Tizol.

Folder B contains items in 3 groupings -- (i) Parts in f minor for horn; 1 trumpet - 1; 1 trombone - Butter (2). -- (ii) Parts in f minor for 4 trumpets - 1, 2, 3, 4; 3 trombones - 1, 2, 3. Parts subtitled "Ending." -- (iii) Part in f minor for 1 trumpet - 4.

Folder C contains parts in f minor for 2 reeds - alto 1, tenor; 2trumpets - 1, 2; 2 trombones - 1/2. Parts for trombones are noted on the same sheet.

Folder D contains items in 3 groupings -- (i) Seventeen page conductor score and 1 part in a minor. Score indicates parts for voice; 6 reeds - alto 1, alto 2, tenor 1, tenor 2, clarinet, baritone; 4 trumpets - 1, 2 3, 4; 3 trombones - 1, 2, 3; bass; drums; piano. A full set of parts was apparently intended to accompany this score - blank sheets with clefs and key signatures are included in the folder. Part for voice. Part does not include lyrics. -- (ii) Parts in a minor for 2 trumpets - 1, 4. -- (iii) Parts in a minor for 6 reeds - alto 1, alto 2, clarinet, tenor 1, tenor 2, baritone; 3 trumpets - 1, 2, 3; 3 trombones - 1, 2, 3; bass; drums; piano.

Folder E contains items in 3 groupings -- (i) Part in c minor (?)for drums. -- (ii) Parts in c minor for 5 reeds - alto 1 (2), alto 2 (2), tenor3 (2), tenor 4 (2), baritone 5 (2); 4 trumpets - 1, 2, 3, 4; 3 trombones - 1, 2(2), 3 (2); bass (2). -- (iii) Part in c minor for 1 trumpet - 1. Part appearsincomplete.

Folder F contains 1 two page piano conductor score in c minor. Score indicates parts for saxes, bass.

Folder G contains items in 2 groupings -- (i) Parts in f minor for 5 reeds - Rab, Proc, Paul, Jimmy (2), Carney; 4 trumpets - Herb (2), Cooty (2), Cat, Merc (2); 3 trombones - Chuck (2), Brown, Buster. -- (ii) Parts in f minor for 1 trumpet - Cat; 1 trombone - Brown.

Folder H contains items in 2 groupings -- (i) Parts in bb minor for 3 reeds - Mallard, Johnny, Chauncey; 4 trumpets - Baker, Rex, Wallace, Ray;3 trombones - Tricky, Brown, Tizol. -- (ii) Parts in f minor for 5 reeds - Otto Proc, clarinet, tenor 1, Jim; 3 trumpets - Rex, Scad, trumpet; 4 trombones - Lawrence, Tricky (2), Tizol, Brown; violin.

Folder I contains items in 3 groupins -- (i) Parts in f minor for 3 reeds - alto, tenor, baritone; 3 trumpets - 1, 2, 3; trombone; drums; guitar; piano. -- (ii) Parts in f minor for 3 reeds - Rab, Proc, Carney; 5 trumpets - Taft, Baker, 2, 3, 4; 6 trombones - Britt, Tricky, Sandy, Tizol, 2, 3. Parts in this grouping appear to reflect different arrangements of the piece. -- (iii) Parts in eb minor for 5 reeds - alto 1, alto 3, tenor 1, tenor 2, baritone; 3 trumpets - 1, 2, 3; 3 trombones - 1, 2, 3. Part in f minor for 1trumpet - 2.

Folder J contains items in 6 groupings -- (i) Parts in f minor for 2 reeds - alto 3, tenor; 1 trombone - Brown. -- (ii) Parts in bb minor for 2 trumpets - Rex, Ray. Part in f minor for violin. -- (iii) Parts in f minor for 3 reeds - alto (?), tenor, baritone; 1 trumpet - Taft; 3 trombones - Wilbur Jones, Brown; 1 violin - Ray. Parts in this grouping appear to reflect different arrangements of the piece. -- (iv) Parts in f minor for 4 reeds - Rabbit, Nat, Jimmy, Carney; 3 trumpets - Ray, Wallace, Taft; 3 trombones - Tricky, Tizol, Sandy. Parts subtitled "Pathe." -- (v) Parts in f minor for 2 reeds - Toby (2), Jimmy; 2 trumpets - Scad, Cat; 1 trombone - Tricky (3). Parts in bb minor for 1 reed - Toby; 1 trombone - Tricky. -- (vi) Parts in f minor for 3 reeds - Rabbit, Jimmy, Nat; 2 trumpets - Baker, Wallace; 1 trombone- Tricky; bass. Parts subtitled "Intro."

Folder K contains 2 two page short scores in f minor. Short scores do not indicate instrumentation. Holograph short score subtitled "Intro." Manuscript short score appears incomplete.


Folder L contains 1 two-page short score in f minor. Short scoredoes not indicate instrumentation. Short score subtitled "Intro."

Folder M contains 2 two-page short scores and 1 one-page short score in f minor, and 1 one-page short score in c minor. 1 two-page short score does not indicate instrumentation. Short score subtitled "Ending." One-page short score in f minor indicates part for 1 trumpet - 5. Short score appears incomplete. 1 two-page short score indicates parts for Proc, Rick. Short score subtitled "Last chos." One-page short score in c minor does not indicate instrumentation and appears incomplete.

Folder N contains 1 published two-page piano vocal score in g minor. Lyrics begin "What good is melody, what good is music ...".

Folder O contains 2 two-page short scores in eb minor. 1 short score does not indicate instrumentation and appears incomplete. 1 short score indicates parts for sax, baritone, brass. Short score appears incomplete.

Folder P contains 1 published two-page piano vocal score in g minor. Lyrics as above.
label: Scope and Contents
content: Folder A, Folder D, grouping i, Folder E, groupings i & iii, Folder F, Folder G, grouping ii, Folder H, Folder I, grouping iii, Folder J, groupings ii & iv-vi, Folders K-M, Folders O-P from the Duke Ellington Library.