Richard Wang discusses Charles Mingus' "Epitaph"

BROADCAST: Aug. 23, 1990 | DURATION: 00:55:37

Digital audio not yet public.

Jazz scholar and historian Richard Wang discusses Charles Mingus' "Epitaph", a 4,237 measure-long composition. Wang discusses Mingus’ upbringing and how he was trained on the trombone originally. Throughout the interview, performances of the Epitaph are played and Wang notes in the composition where listeners can hear Mingus’ classical training, as well as where other classical musicians, such as Duke Ellington and Claude Debussy, most likely were referenced as inspiration in the composition. This program includes an excerpt of a 1971 interview with Charles Mingus in which he discusses the integration of music into his daily life’s routine and schedule.

Broadcast Date
Aug. 23, 1990

Physical Format
1 sound tape reel (ca. 55 min.) : 10 1/2 in.

Duration
55 minutes, 37 seconds

Digital Format
WAV

Ownership
The Chicago History Museum

Language
English

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