Chapter 7: Finding Inspiration in the Classics Sergei Rachmaninoff was a great Russian composer. He lived during the Romantic Era and the Twentieth Century, and is an example of both era's compositional trends. In 1901 he composed Piano Concerto No. 2 (opus 18).
John Lewis did the same with JS. Bach's composition Prelude No. 16 in G minor. John Lewis turns the 18th Century piece into a jazz composition titled "One Diamond"
Chapter 7: the Role of the Conductor
The conductor is the leader of the orchestra, band, choir, or other performing group. Eugene Ormandy, the conductor of the famous Philadelphia Orchestra loves to conduct Johann Strauss II's waltzes, such as the "Blue Danube Waltz". It lends itself to conducting with rubato, which is the free treatment of tempo(speed) within a musical phrase. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSulONzgewQ
Marin Alsop was one of very few female conductors. She was the conductor of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. She received the Barrier Breaker Award for achieving the position of conductor of a major symphony, in this male dominated world.
Chapter 7: Theme and Variations: Theme and variations is a musical form in which a melodic idea (a melody) is stated (played) and then varied (changed a little) in a succession of statements (and many of these slightly changed versions are played, one right after the other).
Here is the original song called, "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya" which dates back to the early 1800's.
As Irish immigrants fled the great potato famine in the 1849's and moved to America, they brought this song with them. 15 years later during the Civil War, many of these men who had come to the states from Ireland ended up fighting in the American Civil War. The song became adapted to what we know as, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again."
"When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again" was revamped for orchestra by Martin Gould in 1943 and titled "American Salute". It was very popular and Martin Gould transcribed it for band. Martin Gould's version is a classic example of theme and variations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gdjVelqk4A Finally, the modern group, the Dropkick Murphy's performed a rock version of the original, "Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEUmJR3-Um8
The differences between composing, arranging, and transcribing:
transcribing: transferring music from one medium, or key to another EXAMPLES: J.S. Bach composed "Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C Major" for organ.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FilzIfTf8O4
Theory Practice, Chapter 7
Music Theory Exercises that will help you.
Click on the link to Music Theory. Net and
choose from pitch and rhythm symbol recognition to
keyboard scales and chord practice. http://www.musictheory.net/exercises
Friday, December 6, 2013
Music In Our Lives: 12/9-12/19 Making Musical Decisions: This chapter is about the differences between composing, arranging and transcribing music. There are many listening selections posted below with the accompanying vocabulary and key ideas.
Musical Decisions About Melody
"Are You Sleeping Brother John?"
I. Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 1
Mahler chose to write this piece in D minor.
A symphony is an extended work for orchestra with several contrasting movements.
He converted a traditional French folk song, written in a major key into a classical composition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5A5tFyXQio
This
song uses the octave displacement which jumps from one note or more 8
steps higher. Duke Ellington used this to create the "hook" or the
melodic "main idea" of the song.
Musical Decisions About Timbre Timbre is the special tone and sound of an instrument or a person's voice.
III. Seasons:Three Songs for Pipa and Cello by Bright Sheng
Musical Decisions About Rhythm Felt time is the aspect of music that control's the listeners sense of how much time has passed. Pieces can feel hurried, calm, spirited or tense. The next two examples have a distinctive "felt time".
Changing the meter is another decision that can be made
about the rhythm. Meter is how the beats are grouped and counted.There are 2 examples from American pop culture
were the meter was changed.
VI. Super Bowl XXV, in 1991 Whitney Houstan sang the
VII. Ray Charles sang "America the Beautiful" so slowly and gracefully that it sounded as he changed the meter from duple to triple. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OTRRzSuWro
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Mark your calendars! Winter Concert is December 17 at 6:30 Admission is free! Bring your family for an evening of great music and student performances!
Sunday, November 24, 2013
There will be a special Chorus
Rehearsal and Class on Tuesday, November 26th right before we leave for the holiday Thanksgiving Break.
Hope to see everyone there!
Also, I updated the link for "Some Nights" so that you have exactly the same version that we are performing to practice with on your own! (I left the really cool one on the site too! :) )
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Fowler Drama's
"Disney's High School Musical"!
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Winter Concert Info:
Check out these links! yes I figured out how to put the links right on the page! Vive la Grand Dame!!!
Remember, the large group rehearses Day 2 during period 7/8 and Day 1 during period 9, and if you can, we rehearse Tuesday after school and Friday after school, 2:30-2:45. See you then :)
Music In Our Lives
Assignments for the week of 11/18/2013-11/22/2013
Complete Packet on Vocal Music
Essay Series will be assigned Thursday and is do Monday 11/25/2013
Chapter Test is Monday 11/25
Tuesday 11/26 will be Project Day with lots of stuff to do.
Notes and Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus
Check out this great video featuring Bobby McFerrin at panel discussion at the World Science Festival 2009. It was the first thing we watched to start Chapter 6 on Vocal Music because it is an interesting example of "audiation" or "the ability to think sound". It also shows the power of the pentatonic (5 tone) scale. Many of you also pointed out in class that it is also an example of "a capella" singing.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne6tB2KiZuk.
Check out these great opera stars representing the 8 vocal registers:
Denyce Graves - Mezzo Soprano
Beverly Sills, Coloratura
One of the greatest Coloratura Sopranos in history. Notice the high scales and flexible trills that she sings.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQMEKLP8bD0
Marian Anderson, Contralto This is a moment from history that the text book discusses. Marian Anderson sings "My Country Tis of Liberty". Notice her beautiful, rich register is clear despite the age of the video (1938). Pay attention to the historical information leading up to her solo.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Le6RrH662I
David Daniels, Counter Tenor The Counter Tenor voice is the highest male voice, that is sung in the female alto range. In this youtube clip, David Daniels is singing a piece by "Vivaldi"who 1678-1741 in Venice, Italy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRdykK-Pa-s
Luciano Pavarotti, Tenor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VATmgtmR5o4 Luciano Pavarotti was one of the world's greatest tenors. This piece was one of his signatures that he performed in his prime. It is called "Nessun Dorma",which is Italian for "None Shall Sleep". "Nessun dorma" is an aria from the final act of Puccini's oper Turandot and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto (the unknown prince), who falls in love at first
with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot. However, any man who
wishes to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles; if he fails,
he will be beheaded. Pavarotti died in 2007 at the age of 71.
The piece he is singing, and that is parodied in the cartoon is called "Largo al factotum" which is an aria from The Barber of Seville by Giochini Rossini,
sung at the first entrance of the title character; the repeated
"Figaro"s before the final patter section are an icon in popular culture
of operatic singing. The term "factotum" refers to a general servant
and comes from the Latin where it literally means "do everything."
Samuel Ramey, Bass http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m82TO9chA0
Samuel Ramey is a great example of a bass register singer. The piece in this segment is "Old Man River" from the show Showboat. Notice the dark, rich quality of his voice compared to the other male voices. Crossover Singers:
Crossover singers, just to review, are artists who started their careers in the classical genres and switched over to popular music because it gives them more exposure to the popular culture audience.
Check out 2 will known crossover singers, Charlotte Church and Andrea Bocelli.
Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman,Time to say Goodbye
Here are several youtube links that go with the songs we are working on for the Winter Concert.
Please rehearse along with the links, especially those of you who are having trouble getting to
section rehearsals.
Hopefully you will be able to just click onto the link, but you might have to copy and paste the link.
"First Snowfall" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_HEorg8BXg
"Jabberwocky" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnkumgf5qVw
"Oh Star!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNDrMifZqLU
"Take Me to the Water" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TokHdpvX7Es
"Some Nights" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34xN2FSEV_k
Extra copies of the music are in room 191. See you at rehearsal Tuesday and Fridays after school.
Assignments Week of 11/12/13-11/15/13
Music In Our Lives:
1. Complete Chapter 5 preview from last week
2. Bellringer for 11/12/13 on Disco and paragraph on Rite of Spring
3. Review for Chapter test on Thursday 11/14 or Friday 11/15 depending on which class you
have, 3rd block, 4/5th block or 10th block.
Chorus:
1. Concert date is tentatively set for December 12th, dress rehearsal will be Tuesday 12/11
during 9th and 10th blocks.
2. Program will include these songs: "The First Snowfall"
"Take Me to the Water"
" O, Star!"
"Jabberwocky"
"Some Nights"
Piano:
1. Bass clef staff notes and practice
2. "Amazing Grace" is a new song to begin practicing.
3. Practice and be prepared to play the reading exercise "Grand Staff"
4. The new song packet includes songs you have already performed. Practice each song so that
you can play it easily. Pick a different song to prepare for the next recital coming up before
Thanksgiving. It will count as a test grade.
Welcome back for another school year and to Music In Our Lives , Choir, and Piano.
I am just getting this year's 2013-2014 blog up and started (November 12th) and MIOL is just finishing Chapt 5. Assignments will be posted and organized weekly by class. Also any youtube performances pertinent to what we are learning in class will also be linked. The MIOL November Newsletter is being sent home this week. Have a parent or guardian sign it for proof that it made it home and return for participation credit in your class.
