Minor Swing (composition): Difference between revisions
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[[File:Minor Swing Django Reinhardt 1937 Swing 78.jpg|thumb|1937 release as a Swing 78.]]"'''Minor Swing'''" is a popular [[Gypsy jazz]] tune composed by [[Django Reinhardt]] and [[Stéphane Grappelli]]. It was first recorded by [[The Quintet of the Hot Club of France]] in 1937. It was recorded four other times throughout Reinhardt's career and is considered to be one of his most covered compositions, as well as a Gypsy [[jazz standard]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Django: The Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend |last=Dregni |first=Michael |year=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press US |isbn=0-19-516752-X |page=138}}</ref> |
[[File:Minor Swing Django Reinhardt 1937 Swing 78.jpg|thumb|1937 release as a Swing 78.]]"'''Minor Swing'''" is a popular [[Gypsy jazz]] tune composed by [[Django Reinhardt]] and [[Stéphane Grappelli]]. It was first recorded by [[The Quintet of the Hot Club of France]] in 1937. It was recorded four other times throughout Reinhardt's career and is considered to be one of his most covered compositions, as well as a Gypsy [[jazz standard]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Django: The Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend |last=Dregni |first=Michael |year=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press US |isbn=0-19-516752-X |page=138}}</ref> |
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The composition was first released as a 78 single on the French Swing label in 1937 as SW.23A, Matrix #OLA1990-1, featuring Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli under the group name [[Quintette du Hot Club de France]]. |
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==Structure== |
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Minor Swing is written in the key of A minor. Interestingly, apart from the brief introduction and final coda or playout, there is no discernable melody, just a repeated sequence of chord changes over which the key players improvise continuously until by some mutual agreement the end is decided and the playout performed. The introduction comprises a set of partial arpeggios over the chords Am/Dm/Am/Dm/Am/Dm/E7, followed by the main changes which are Am/-/Dm/-/E7/-/Am/-/ which are followed by Dm/-/Am/-/E7/-/Am/E7/, then the cycle begins again, until the playout which comprises some set arpeggios following the pattern of the first half of the tune with one repeat. In some modern treatments, the E7 in the middle of the second stanza may be replaced with Bb7 (a [[tritone]] substitution) and/or the second stanza sometimes replaced with a [[cycle of fifths]] based treatment for effect, i.e. Dm7/G7/C7/F7/Bm6/E7/Am (etc.).<ref>http://www.djangobooks.com/blog/analysis-and-breakdown-of-stochelo-rosenbergs-minor-swing-solo-from-live-at-the-north-sea-festival/</ref> |
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==Personnel== |
==Personnel== |
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On the first recording on 25 November 1937, the [[Quintette du Hot Club de France]] consisted of:<ref>{{cite web |title=Django Reinhardt: Minor Swing |last=Murphy |first=Frank |publisher=Jazz.com |url=http://www.jazz.com/music/2007/11/9/django-reinhardt-minor-swing |accessdate=2009-09-10}}</ref> |
On the first recording on 25 November 1937, the [[Quintette du Hot Club de France]] consisted of:<ref>{{cite web |title=Django Reinhardt: Minor Swing |last=Murphy |first=Frank |publisher=Jazz.com |url=http://www.jazz.com/music/2007/11/9/django-reinhardt-minor-swing |accessdate=2009-09-10}}</ref> |
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*Potzi Trio |
*Potzi Trio |
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*Andy Leftwich (Album: Ride, 2003) |
*Andy Leftwich (Album: Ride, 2003) |
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*[[Dotschy Reinhardt]] has recorded a version which she calls "Girls Like Me/Django's Theme" along with original/new words in Romany and a recognisable tune, on her album "Sprinkled Eyes" (2006) |
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*[[Swingrowers]] sample the original to create an [[electro swing]] version in 2012 |
*[[Swingrowers]] sample the original to create an [[electro swing]] version in 2012 |
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Revision as of 08:57, 8 December 2015
"Minor Swing" is a popular Gypsy jazz tune composed by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. It was first recorded by The Quintet of the Hot Club of France in 1937. It was recorded four other times throughout Reinhardt's career and is considered to be one of his most covered compositions, as well as a Gypsy jazz standard.[1]
The composition was first released as a 78 single on the French Swing label in 1937 as SW.23A, Matrix #OLA1990-1, featuring Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli under the group name Quintette du Hot Club de France.
Structure
Minor Swing is written in the key of A minor. Interestingly, apart from the brief introduction and final coda or playout, there is no discernable melody, just a repeated sequence of chord changes over which the key players improvise continuously until by some mutual agreement the end is decided and the playout performed. The introduction comprises a set of partial arpeggios over the chords Am/Dm/Am/Dm/Am/Dm/E7, followed by the main changes which are Am/-/Dm/-/E7/-/Am/-/ which are followed by Dm/-/Am/-/E7/-/Am/E7/, then the cycle begins again, until the playout which comprises some set arpeggios following the pattern of the first half of the tune with one repeat. In some modern treatments, the E7 in the middle of the second stanza may be replaced with Bb7 (a tritone substitution) and/or the second stanza sometimes replaced with a cycle of fifths based treatment for effect, i.e. Dm7/G7/C7/F7/Bm6/E7/Am (etc.).[2]
Personnel
On the first recording on 25 November 1937, the Quintette du Hot Club de France consisted of:[3]
- Django Reinhardt – guitar
- Stéphane Grappelli – violin
- Joseph Reinhardt – guitar
- Eugene Vees – guitar
- Louis Vola – bass
Covers
Notable Covers Include[4]
- The David Grisman Quintet
- Biréli Lagrène
- Quinteto de Hernan Oliva in 1972
- Jean Bonal in 1974
- Eric McFadden and Stanton Hirsch
- Mattias Eklundh on his Freak Guitar:The Road Less Travelled album.
- Rachel Portman on the soundtrack for the 2000 film Chocolat
- Esthero also samples the intro throughout her song "Wikked Lil' Grrrls".
- The Rosenberg Trio in 1993
- Martin Taylor in 1994
- Angelo Debarre
- Potzi Trio
- Andy Leftwich (Album: Ride, 2003)
- Dotschy Reinhardt has recorded a version which she calls "Girls Like Me/Django's Theme" along with original/new words in Romany and a recognisable tune, on her album "Sprinkled Eyes" (2006)
- Swingrowers sample the original to create an electro swing version in 2012
In the media
Movies
- 1974 Movie Lacombe, Lucien
- 1993 Movie Arizona Dream
- 1999 Movie The Matrix[5]
- 1999 Movie Metroland
- 2000 Movie Chocolat[6]
Videogames
- 2002 Videogame Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven[7]
See also
Notes
- ^ Dregni, Michael (2004). Django: The Life and Music of a Gypsy Legend. Oxford University Press US. p. 138. ISBN 0-19-516752-X.
- ^ http://www.djangobooks.com/blog/analysis-and-breakdown-of-stochelo-rosenbergs-minor-swing-solo-from-live-at-the-north-sea-festival/
- ^ Murphy, Frank. "Django Reinhardt: Minor Swing". Jazz.com. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
- ^ Minor Swing. Second Hand Songs.
- ^ The Matrix (1999). Soundtracks. IMDB.
- ^ Chocolat (2000). Soundtracks. IMDB.
- ^ Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven.