2. Very Special Promenades CSO Docent Lecture
October 10, 2016
Judy Bundra, Ph.D.
DePaul University School of Music

3. Symphonic Superheroes

4. Symphonic Superheroes
Who is a Superhero?

5. Symphonic Superheroes
COURAGE Brave Fearless Do musicians have courage? Can music make you feel courageous?

6. Music for the Program Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4, Mvt. 4
McTee, “Circuits”
Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade
Copland, Appalachian Spring
Stravinsky, Firebird Suite, “Infernal Dance”
Kernis, Musica Celestis
Shostakovich, Symphony #10, Mvt. 2
Beethoven, Symphony #9, “Ode to Joy”

7. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Born 1840 in Russia
Studied at St. Petersburg;
taught at the Moscow
Conservatory
Wrote many great works,
e.g., “Nutcracker Suite,” “1812 Overture”
Died in 1893, at 53

8. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 4, Mvt. 4
Incorporates well-known Russian folk song, “Little Birch Tree”
See the little birch in the meadow.
See the leaves a dancing when the wind blows.
Loo-li-loo, when the wind blows.
Raise your hand when
you hear this melody
played by the brass.

9. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
What did you hear?
Melody: Up and down by steps (scales)
Rhythm: Short notes, fast tempo, duple meter
Dynamics: Loud
Tone Color: Whole orchestra
Feelings? Courage, exciting

10. Cindy McTee Born in 1953, in Tacoma, WA Was a music professor in TX
Active composer; jazz influence
Circuits is a 6-minute piece for
orchestra with repeating ostinati,
high energy, fast, short rhythms

11. Cindy McTee, Circuits
Circuit: a circular line, route, or movement that starts and finishes at the same place.

12. Cindy McTee, Circuits
3 Flutes 3 Oboes 3 Clarinets in Bb 3 Bassoons 4 Horns 3 Trumpets in C 3 Trombones Tuba 3 Percussion Piano (optional) Strings
Percussion 1 Cowbell 4 Almglocken Metal Plate 2 Woodblocks Percussion 2 Snare Drum Small Suspended Cymbal 5 Temple Blocks Glockenspiel Percussion 3 Small Bass Drum Tambourine Vibraphone Small Suspended Cymbal

13. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Born Died 1908
Created music which was distinctly Russian
Incorporated exotic, “oriental” sound in compositions

14. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheherazade
- Symphonic Poem in 4 movements
- Based upon the Tales of the
Arabian Nights

15. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheherazade, the wife of the Sultan
Who performs the theme? How does it make you feel?

16. Aaron Copland One of the most respected American
American composers in the 20th C.
Lived
Appalachian Spring, 1944, Pulitzer Prize
Written for Martha Graham
Ballet about Westward
movement

17. Aaron Copland What do you hear? How does the melody move?
Up? Down? Skips? Steps
Show us with your hands.
Is the music fast or slow? High or low?
Can you hear 2 melodies at the same time?

18. Igor Stravinsky Lived from 1882 to 1971
One of the most influential composers of the 20th C., born in Russia, and lived in Switzerland, France, US
Studied with Rimsky-Korsakov in St. Petersburg

19. Igor Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Commissioned by Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe,
Premiered in Paris, 1910
Also wrote for other ballets, Petrushka and Rite of Spring.

20. Igor Stravinsky What do you hear? “Danse Infernale”
- Raise your hand when you hear this instrument:
Is the music
Fast? Slow? Loud? Soft? Smooth? Jagged?
- How does the music make you feel?

21. Aaron Jay Kernis Born 1960 Started composing at 13 Yale Music faculty
Won Pulitzer Prize in 1998
Musica Celestis means
“heavenly music”

22. Aaron Jay Kernis Musica Celestis, 1990 How does this make you feel?
How did the composer create these feelings?
Musica Celestis, 1990

23. Aaron Jay Kernis
What instruments do you hear?

24. Dmitri Shostakovich Shostakovich lived 1906-1975 in Soviet Russia
Entered St. Petersburg Conservatory at 13
Wrote music during the Stalin regime, experienced censorship.
Symphony No. 10 premiered
in 1953.
“It's about Stalin and the Stalin years.”

25. Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 10, Mvt. 2
How is this different than the Musica Celestis?
How does this make you feel?
Timbre: full orchestra
Dynamics: loud
Rhythm: Fast, short notes
Melody: short motives, staccato
Harmony: minor

26. Ludwig van Beethoven Lived 1770-1827, in Germany and Austria
One of the most influential and famous composers in Western classical music

27. Ludwig van Beethoven
The 9th symphony incorporated well-known chorus, “Ode to Joy”
Wondrous music brings us closer, helps us be a family.
When we sing as one big choir, we feel our courage come to be.
Let the music of our voices blend together on this Earth.
Bring us lasting harmony and peace throughout the universe.
Conducted 9th Symphony
Because of his increasing deafness, Beethoven
could not hear his own music.

28. Teaching Tips Know your materials Look at students
Move around the room
Give students specific activities to do
Reward students when successful
Be specific with questions and directions
Talk less, do more