Music for May 11-15: Grades K-3

In music class, you did a GREAT job at telling me when music was forte (LOUD!) and piano (soft). I was impressed when you let me know that the dynamics (VOLUME) changed in compositions from Beethoven's "5th Symphony" to Edvard Grieg's "In The Hall of the Mountain King". BRAVO!!

This time, we will be working on TEMPO, or the speed of the music.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) I would like you to take a sheet of paper and one side put, in BIG letters: ALLEGRO (ah-lay-grow). This means FAST!

2.) On the other side of the paper, I would like you to put ADAGIO (ah-dah-jee- oh). This means the tempo is SLOW.

3.) Once you have completed that, I would like you to listen to two different compositions. The first one you have heard before! We did forte and piano with this piece, but now, you will determine if it is ALLEGRO or ADAGIO. Some pieces stay the same tempo throughout, while others change tempo. Hold up your special TEMPO sheets to the side which indicates the correct tempo you hear. "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. (See link) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy2zDJPIgwc

Its original name was "Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major", It is one of Mozart's most popular pieces and the opening tune is heard in many places today; for example, many mobile phone ring tones, commercials and television shows/movies! It was composed in 1787 and is a serenade for strings. "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" means: 'A little Night Music'. "Nachtmusik" was a title which was often given to serenades in the 18th century(in the 1700's). A serenade in the 18th century was a lighthearted piece of music, often played during feasts. This serenade is written for two violins, viola, and cello and a tall, stringed double bass. It is either performed as a string quartet (just four players) or by a small group of instruments, in which case, at least one double bass is normally added. You will listen to the 1st movement ONLY. Hold up your sign with PRIDE and let everyone know if it is ALLEGRO or ADAGIO! You can even tell whomever is with you, when it is forte or piano! The dynamics(VOLUME) changes a lot in this piece. You are becoming a fabulous music listener! Here is your second TEMPO example: One of the BEST versions out there! Yundi - Beethoven, (from Sonata "Pathétique" No. 8, op. 13) (link) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuN3yCmHb_U

"Pathetique" cantabile This movement is a wonderful model of the expressive piano in the classical period. The famous cantabile (cahn- tah- bee-lay) melody is played three times, always in A♭ major. The cantabile theme from this movement was used as the theme music for radio's most widely listened-to classical music program, Adventures in Good Music, which aired nationally in the United States and in other parts of the world, from 1970 to 2007. Several rock songs have also used the cantabile in their pieces. Kiss used the main theme as the basis for their song "Great Expectations" on 1976's Destroyer and on 2003's Kiss Symphony: Alive IV (featuring the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Children's Choir, both of whom performed while putting on the band's signature makeup). Billy Joel also used the cantabile as the melody for the chorus of his 1983 song "This Night" from the album An Innocent Man. "Ludvig van Beethoven" is credited on the album sleeve as co- writing the chorus with Joel. The complete movement was performed by Schroeder, set to animation, in the 1969 animated film A Boy Named Charlie Brown. The cantabile was partially performed by Schroeder, but interrupted by the "sports mice" in the 2000 TV film It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown. See if you can find them online!

Beginning of the "Pathetique" cantabile on the piano. SO beautiful!

The main theme of this movement opens nearly identically to an episode in the similar movement of Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 14, K. 457. Next week, we will do a S.Q.U.I.L.T. (Silent, Quiet, Uninterrupted, Listening Time) on both of these pieces. These compositions are "classics" every young person should listen to and learn about. ENJOY!! Mrs. T. :) MISS YOU ALL!!