[Dixielandjazz] Black, Brown, Beige - Ellington - Black and T an

[Goggin, Brian (Dublin)]

Yes - the Black and Tans were in Ireland in the late 1910's and early
1920's, before and around the time of the civil war. 
I wouldn't call them a volunteer force though. They were were scum of the
lowest order - the English put them in here as a "police force" and like the
country they worked for, they murdered and terrorrised the people here. Any
memories surviving people from that time would have of them are bad. Near
where I come from there's a monument to a guy. In October 1920 some black
and tans had him prisoner, told him they'd let him go and shot him in the
back.

I always thought the Miley/Ellington tune just referered to Blacks and light
skinned blacks, no?



> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Stephen Barbone [SMTP:barbonestreet at earthlink.net]
> Sent:	Wednesday, January 29, 2003 8:23 PM
> To:	Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
> Subject:	[Dixielandjazz] Black, Brown, Beige - Ellington - Black and
> Tan
> 
> List Mates:
> 
> Ellington used music to converse about social themes. If this interests
> you, read on. If not delete now.
> 
> There was a question of whether ot not Ellington's "Tone Parallel" in 3
> movements, "Black, Brown and Beige" had it's roots in the light skin v.
> dark skin prejudice among blacks. Answer, according to reviewers at the
> time, is no. Ellington used music to converse about social themes,
> however there was a theme other than prejudice in this work.
> 
> The prevailing view seems to be that this 48 minute composition was
> meant to reflect a musical portrait of Negro life in America.
> Specifically, as Ellington said: "We are weaving a musical thread which
> runs parallel to the history of the American Negro."
> 
> First movement "Black". Two themes, the Work Song and the Spiritual. The
> Negro psyche.
> Second Movement: "Brown" Represents life Negro life in the period from
> the Revolutionary War through WW1. West Indian influence, turbulence
> around the Civil War, Blues between Civil and WW1.
> Third Movement "Beige" Represents the boisterous and chaotic times of
> WW1 and shortly thereafter where the Negro rises to help protect the
> flag and in effect, Black, Brown and Beige, becomes Red White and Blue.
> Paraphrased from an article in Down Beat, 1943, by Helen Oakley
> 
> Much too complicated to discuss fully. If interested, suggest you get;
> "The Duke Ellington Reader" edited by Mark Tucker, Oxford University
> Press. There are many, many pages, articles, reviews in it about this
> work and about other Ellington works. From various time periods. Very
> informative to the Ellington fans who want to learn more about what he
> wrote and why. Balanced work with both pro and con reviews.
> 
> Regarding "Black and Tan" Ellington himself said: "I have been told that
> in England the words "black and tan" recall memories of the voluntary
> force that went to Ireland . . . and it can also mean a familiar term
> for the Manchester Terrier. But in "Black and Tan Fantasy", the words
> have a different meaning. There are in Harlem certain places after the
> style of night clubs patronized by both black and coloured amusement
> seekers, and these are colloquially known as "black and tans." Quoted
> from Rhythm, an English publication, 1933.
> 
> Cheers,
> Steve (adore Ellington) Barbone
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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