Glenn Miller: biography, family, best compositions, photos

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

One mention of the name of Glenn Miller causes a storm of positive emotions among fans of his work. Films were made about this outstanding person, TV shows were broadcast, books were written. However, there are a number of interesting facts that are rarely mentioned. This article will be devoted to them.

Popularity in the Soviet Union and Russia

According to the ratings of American and European magazines, music lovers most often name Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and others as the most outstanding jazz musicians. Glenn Miller is usually not on these lists.

And even if it comes not to jazz in general, but to swing - the direction in which the hero of this article became famous - then here the championship usually belongs to Benny Goodman or Artie Shaw. In our country, things are different. In the Soviet Union, the Glenn Miller Orchestra was the most beloved foreign jazz band.

Cinema

What is the reason for such a high popularity of this big band in Russia?This circumstance is explained by the fact that the music of Glenn Miller sounded in the Hollywood film "Sun Valley Serenade". This tape was shown in the USSR after the Great Patriotic War in the process of cultural exchange between the allied countries.

The appearance on the screen of jazz musicians performing incendiary rhythmic compositions along with romantic ballads delighted millions of citizens of our country. The film was reopened several times until the early 1960s.

They say that in the Soviet Union, experienced people could predict the future policy of the state in the field of culture by the music of Glenn Miller. If the New Year's program showed excerpts from the "Sun Valley Serenade", it meant that everything would be fine. If not, then one should have waited for numerous bans.

Subculture

The famous hipster movement was also inspired by the music of Glenn Miller, played during film shows, and then from homemade phonograph records that were sold under the counter. In a time of stagnation, Sun Valley Serenade, like all Western culture, was once again out of favor with the government. Therefore, for some period of time, Soviet people stopped contemplating it, as well as hearing the music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

In the era of perestroika, the tape was repeatedly shown on TV during the New Year holidays. Therefore, for many people in our country, this film is strongly associated with the winter season.

Music in the Glenn Miller Family

Global fame came to the musician enoughlate, when he was well over thirty. Therefore, we can say that his musical path was long. Acquaintance with music happened in early childhood in the home of parents who loved art.

In the house rented by the parents of the future musician, there was a small organ on which his mother played short pieces of her own composition. All the children gathered around the instrument and listened enthusiastically, as if spellbound. When the children went to school, they had to go to classes in the nearest city, since the family then lived in the countryside. During various family trips, the mother would usually start singing a joke song about studying, and the children would pick it up.

Glenn Miller loved music. Unlike your name. At birth, he was named Alton, but the boy hated being called that. Therefore, he preferred to introduce himself by his middle name, which became known throughout the world.

From an early age, the guy played the mandolin. He also mastered the cornet (as the trumpet was called in military bands). The latter instrument was very common at that time, especially in the southern states, where at the beginning of the century there were many military units, each of which had its own musical group.

Over time, the number of orchestras decreased, and brass instruments were inherited by the children and grandchildren of military musicians. So it was in New Orleans, where jazz was born and where the most famous trumpeter of all times and peoples - Louis Armstrong - played the military cornet in his youth. Similarly, the pipe fell into the hands of little Glenn Miller, now world famoustrombone musician. To get it was the cherished dream of the future jazzman. It was accomplished at the age of twelve. To buy an instrument, the young musician had to work on a farm for a long time, milking cows.

Another passion

Few people know that the founder and first leader of the legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra was seriously involved in football at school. He played on the state championship team. Then Glenn Miller was named the best left winger in the entire tournament.

And more music

But by the time he was in high school, his passion for music forced other interests out of the young man's life. He formed his first orchestra with several friends. Constant rehearsals were reflected in Glenn's academic performance. When he entered the university, he did not study there even for one year - he was expelled after failing three out of five exams.

But the young man did not regret it. By that time, he had already chosen the path of a musician for himself.

Music education

During his university years, he also attended Joseph Schillinger's music courses. This outstanding teacher developed a system through which it was possible to teach a person to create musical works. The uniqueness of this technique lay in the fact that Schillinger did not concentrate on any particular genre, but provided universal knowledge on the subjects necessary for future composers.

His students at different times were Bernstein, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and some other figures who glorified American culture. Incidentally, this teacherSoviet immigrant. Before moving to the USA, he taught composition at the Kharkov Conservatory. He also wrote music for one of the world's first synthesizers, the theremin. In parallel with the process of inventing this device, he studied at the conservatory.

Performer Career

Glenn Miller soon gained fame as a high-class trombonist. One after another, offers came from popular orchestras: they offered the musician to join them. In the twenties, he took part in concerts and studio recordings with the bands of Benny Goodman and the Dorsey brothers.

Written in collaboration with Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller's melody then received the first response from the audience, after which it began to gain momentum in popularity.

The beginnings of my own style

In 1930, the Glenn Miller Orchestra accompanied the famous English singer. It was then that the famous formula of corporate sound appeared. The solo instrument in the big band was the clarinet. The saxophones played his accompaniment.

Swing era

This name was given in musical circles to the period from the mid-thirties of the XX century to the end of the forties. Then a direction of jazz appeared, intended not only for listening, but also used as dance music. This phenomenon was born as a reaction to the Great Depression - the strongest financial crisis in the history of the United States of America.

To forget about unemployment, Prohibition, rampant mafia and other negative aspects of life, people needed good entertainment. Jazz music came to the aid of the people. Nowit became more rhythmic than it was before. In the cities of America, huge dance halls opened one after another. The names of some of them (for example, "Savoy") have survived to this day thanks to the titles of jazz compositions.

These establishments were places where freedom triumphed. There you could often see a black girl dancing with a white guy. Each of these clubs had its own orchestra. Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Gene Krupa, and many more have made their mark at venues like these.

Radio also played a big role in popularizing swing. Benny Goodman was the first bandleader whose band regularly (every week) played a full live concert. This way of transmitting music was not only new, but also democratic. In order to listen to the compositions of your favorite band, now you did not need to buy records - the cheapest radio was enough. Therefore, jazz became one of the most popular styles of its time and quickly expanded the boundaries of its audience.

Music films

The music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra also found its way to the audience. This team, as already mentioned in the article, starred in musical films. The first of these was Radio 1936. It already contained the premise for the future masterpiece - "Sun Valley Serenade", as the tape starred singer Dorothy Dandridge and dancers The Brothers Nicholas.

In addition, the films Bandwives and Blind Date were made.

Criticism

Glenn Miller's instrumental compositions and songs were so popular, many beautiful words were said and written about them by musicians of different generations. Louis Armstrong admitted that he loves these compositions. Frank Sinatra said that his early recordings were rubbish compared to the brilliant music played by Glenn Miller and his orchestra. By the way, members of the team of the great trombonist often played on Sinatra's recordings. Such demand for these performers once again confirms the high class of their skills.

Russian rock musician Boris Grebenshchikov confesses:

For me, the music of Glenn Miller - not today and not yesterday - it is timeless, like a fire in the hearth. And also warm.

But not only positive reviews can be found about this music. So, another famous clarinetist and leader of his own orchestra, Artie Shaw, spoke about the work of his colleague: “It was his music that should have died, not he himself.”

As a rule, Glenn Miller's instrumentals and songs are criticized for being overly commercial. Many also believe that swing should not be called jazz at all. Be that as it may, adherents of both opinions accept the fact that Glenn Miller (see photo in the article) had a powerful influence on the development of modern music.

Musician Rules

The young trombonist of the article combined two qualities that may seem mutually exclusive to many: he was a great musician and a talented manager. He demanded from each member of his team an impeccable externalappearance at performances, synchronism of movements (famous swinging pipes in different directions). At the same time, the sound of the orchestra has always remained perfectly clear.

True patriot

The paradoxical nature of this person also lies in the fact that, along with the love of commercial success and the desire for popularity, genuine patriotism was present in this person. During the Second World War, in order to support his fellow citizens going to the front, he became the head of a military band, disbanding his big band at the very peak of its popularity. Having received permission for such activities from the Secretary of Defense, Miller initially leads a small (15 musicians) dance orchestra.

Then he is trusted by more serious bands, and finally by a large military aviation band, for which Glenn Miller writes marches in jazz style.

Military music reformer

Miller's marches were different from the classic examples of this genre. The composer introduced elements of Negro music into them. For example, he used the blues tune Basin street blues as the theme for one of them.

This innovation had many opponents. However, there were also many supporters of military music sounding in a jazz style. The victory was on the side of the latter. The new orchestra of Glenn Miller has received wide popularity not only in his homeland, but also in other countries.

Misty Albion

A military band led by Major Glenn Miller was invited to England. These tours were fullsense of the word triumphant. The team performed in front of the audience every evening for several weeks.

Omen

The next country on this tour was France. The orchestra was supposed to fly to Paris on the eve of the upcoming 1945. A few hours after the musician left the building where he lived in England, the house was completely destroyed by the bombing.

Tragedy

Glenn Miller flew to the capital of France, piloting the plane on his own. It was cloudy. Suddenly, communication with the aircraft was lost. Nowhere near the intended route, the musician's plane did not land. No traces of the crash were found either on land or in the ocean.

Therefore, there are numerous legends that the great jazzman did not die, but tired of the burden of fame, he decided to hide from excessive public attention. Some fans are sure that their idol lived to a ripe old age under a false name. However, similar versions of events arose after the death of many untimely departed stars.

Glenn Miller was posthumously awarded the Order of the Bronze Star for selfless service to the Motherland. As for music awards, due to their huge number, it is impossible to give a complete list. It is worth mentioning at least the fact that three compositions performed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra are included in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Private life

Glenn Miller met his future wife while studying at the university. He was infatuated with a charming girl and soon proposed to her. The only obstacle to concludingmarriage became a financial issue - the young musician did not have enough money. Here, Glenn's old friend, Benny Goodman, came to the rescue. He lent the necessary amount.

Glenn Miller has two children. One of them - Steve Miller - continues the work of his father. And in this case, the saying that nature rests on the children of geniuses has not been confirmed. Steve leads his own blues-rock band, in which Paul McCartney himself played bass at one time.

Memory of the composer

Glenn Miller's albums, recorded with his orchestra and other musicians, have been reissued several times since his death.

In total, more than thirty discs are known, in the recording of which he took part. Collections with titles like "Glenn Miller: The Best" have been published innumerable. The cover of one of them is shown below.

In the first half of the fifties, the film "The Glenn Miller Story" was released in Hollywood.

The tape received the award of the American Film Academy "Oscar". Glenn Miller's sheet music first appeared before his studio recordings. It happened in the late twenties. Then the world saw the printed collection "125 Clarinet Solos".

Favorite tunes

As already mentioned, this orchestra was recognized by the domestic listener thanks to the film “Sun Valley Serenade”. It included works by Glenn Miller: "Moonlight", "Train to Chattanooga", "Kissing Polka" and others. The first of these compositions was writtenwhile still studying as a musician with the famous professor Josef Schillinger.

An interesting situation happened with another piece from the orchestra's repertoire. It's about "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller. Actually, Joe Garland wrote it. But many music lovers mistakenly consider it the author of Miller.

First entries

Few people know that two swing titans - Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman - played in the same orchestra at the beginning of their musical career.

The trumpeter of that band had a phonograph. This sound recording device was the forerunner of record players. The music was recorded on a cylindrical piece of metal.

And thanks to this apparatus, the sound of Glenn Miller's trombone and Benny Goodman's clarinet were captured. Subsequently, these recordings were released on the disc.

The Glenn Island Casino became a regular venue in the thirties for the newly formed Glenn Miller Orchestra. The first time they heard the signature sound (solo clarinet accompanied by saxophones), the audience literally went crazy.

It was during one of the concerts in "Glenn Island" that the composition "In the Mood" was recorded. For Glenn Miller, this work has become a landmark. After the release of the record, he became a real superstar.

Modern orchestras

After World War II, the Glenn Miller Orchestra was reborn. They began to be led by Tex Benek, who played saxophone and sang in the original band before the war. In 1950this group disbanded this year. However, interest in Glenn Miller's music remained high. This was facilitated by the recordings of other orchestras that imitated the famous big band. And also the mentioned film about Glenn Miller with James Stewart in the title role brought the lion's share of popularity.

The right to use the name of the orchestra passed to another team in 1956. This big band was led by Ray McKinley. This musician in the early forties played drums in the band of the air force, which was led by Glenn Miller. This group still exists today. Several ensembles also have a license to use the name of the great musician: the Glenn Miller orchestras of Great Britain and Europe (France), as well as some other ensembles.