Autograph manuscript score - photo 1
Autograph manuscript score - photo 2
Autograph manuscript score - photo 3

Autograph manuscript score

Lot 535
29.09.2023 11:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 630
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1029186
Lot 535 | Autograph manuscript score
Estimate value
£ 1 500 – 2 500
BELLSON, Louie (1924-2009).

Autograph manuscript score for the composition The Hawk Talks, 1951, titled on the first page in red pencil ‘“The Hawk Talks”, Score, By Louie Bellson’, additionally titled on the verso of the last page ‘“The Hawk Talks”, Original, By Louie Bellson, For Harry James Band’, and dated ‘1/17/51’, scored in full for 18 musicians including saxophones, trumpets, trombones, guitar, piano, bass and drums, noting specific parts intended for ‘Jimmy’ [Cook], ‘Corky’ [Corcoran] and ‘Harry’ [James], the score in pencil with occasional ink annotations.

Jazz drummer Louie Bellson performed with many of the great big bands in the 40s and 50s, including Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Harry James, and Duke Ellington. Despite composing the present score specifically for Harry James Band, as indicated, Bellson was persuaded to record the tune with Ellington instead: ‘Bellson often said that he regarded his tenure with Ellington as one of the significant points in his career… A pair of his best-known big band works, “The Hawk Talks” and “Skin Deep” became popular staples of the Ellington repertoire – but not without some initial reservations from Bellson. In a 2006 interview he said he had written “The Hawk Talks” with Harry James in mind. “Harry was called ‘The Hawk,’” Bellson recalled. “But I wrote it when I was with Duke, and it took a lot of coaxing from [trombonist] Juan Tizol to make me bring it to Duke. I told Juan, ‘Are you crazy? You want me to bring music in to a place with Duke and Billy Strayhorn? Geniuses like that? No way.’ I brought it in anyhow and lo and behold, Duke recorded it right away. “But it was Duke who taught me how to write. How to be original. How to know what to do with the rhythm section, with the horns.” Ellington returned Bellson’s high regard, noting, “Not only is Louie Bellson the world’s greatest drummer… he’s the world’s greatest musician!” Heckman, Los Angeles Times obituary, 2009.

15 pages, 347 x 453 mm, large 19 stave score sheets by King Brand with eight bars per page; housed in a modern custom red cloth solander box.

[With:] a typewritten publishing agreement for the composition The Hawk Talks between Tempo Music, Inc. and composer Louie Bellson, dated 25 May 1951, signed in blue ballpoint pen by Bellson, 4pp., 356 x 216 mm.

[And:] a leaflet for the Duke Ellington Society of Southern California, Inc., signed and inscribed in black ink to Charlie Watts ‘To Charlie – peace + love, Louie Bellson’.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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More from Creator

A collection of manuscript scores used during recording of Louie Bellson and Gene Krupa’s rudimental drum instruction album The Mighty Two, 1963
A collection of manuscript scores used during recording of Louie Bellson and Gene Krupa’s rudimental drum instruction album The Mighty Two, 1963
£1 500

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