32-Bar ABAC Compositions

Chapter 4 examines all of Parker’s complete 32-bar compositions that are in ABAC form. There are only four of these, and one of them (“Ornithology”) is generally credited as a co-composition to Parker and Benny Harris. It is based on the form and harmonies of “How High the Moon” (Hamilton-Lewis). Parker performed “Ornithology” consistently through his career, perhaps because the conjunction of “Bird” and “Ornithology” was too tempting to ignore. “Donna Lee,” while credited to Parker, is widely considered to have been written by Miles Davis. One of the most popular compositions associated with Parker, “Donna Lee” is based on “Back Home in Indiana” (MacDonald-Hanley). The final two works, “Quasimodo” and “Cardboard,” are less known, but are fine compositions.