Music Appreciation.19-34

C HAPTER 5
Art Songs
An Art Song is a song usually written for
one voice with piano accompaniment,
popular in the Classical Tradition.
Songs Include:
Caro Mio Ben
Brahms Lullaby
S ECTION 1
Caro Mio Ben
Sheet Music for Caro Mio Ben is in the public domain here:
Art Song Central
L ISTENING & R ESEARCH
1. Listen to a version of this song with Luciano
Pavarotti. Describe how he sings in terms of
ornamentation, vibrato, dynamics and
expression.
2. Cecilia Bartoli has also performed this piece.
Compare her version to Luciano Pavarotti.
3. She is a mezzo soprano. What does this mean?
Is her version in the same key as Pavarotti?
A NALYSIS
1. Explain the terms Larghetto, dolce,
largamente, rit and piu.
2. What is the Key of the piece?
3. How would you describe the right hand of the
piano accompaniment? (Hint: compare it to
the melody)
4. There are a lot of dynamic markings. List all of
these and explain each of them.
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S ECTION 2
Brahms Lullaby
Sheet Music for Brahms Lullaby in the public domain here:
International Music Score Project
L ISTENING & R ESEARCH
1. Describe the tempo and metre of the piece.
Why is it suitable for a lullaby?
2. Listen to Celine Dion perform Brahms Lullaby.
Describe her performance. Listen for the
instrumentation and timing in particular.
3. Chloe Agnew from Celtic Woman has also
performed this piece. Listen to her
performance. Are there any features of Irish
Music present? How does her performance
differ from Celine Dion?
4. Listen to a choir perform this piece on youtube.
Which of the three performances do you
prefer? Justify your answer musically.
A NALYSIS
1. Explain the term “Delicatamente mosso”
2. What is the time signature? What famous
dance has the same time signature?
3. Explain Led, the markings and simile under
the first three bars.
4. Describe the dynamics of the piece?
5. What is the range of the piece?
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C HAPTER 6
Operas,
Operettas,
Oratorios &
Stage Musicals
This is again a very broad category covering music associated with the stage.
Songs Include:
Voi Che Sapete
I am so Proud
Laudate Dominum
S ECTION 1
Voi Che Sapete
Sheet Music for Voi Che Sapete is in the public domain here:
International Music Score Library
L ISTENING & R ESEARCH
1. Voi Che Sapete is from an Opera. What is an
Opera? Write a profile on the opera Voi Che
Sapete is from.
2. Find the translation for the lyrics. Explain
what the song is about. Does it progress the
storyline?
3. Listen to Maria Ewing sing this song. Describe
what you see and hear.
A NALYSIS
1. This is an orchestral score. Describe the strings
part. (Hint: look at the rhythm and notes that
are played).
2. What bar does the melody begin at? What
instruments play in the introduction? What do
they play?
3. Describe what the woodwind and brass play at
C.
4. What does the horn play at bar 76?
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S ECTION 2
I am so Proud
Sheet Music for I am so Proud is in the public domain here:
International Music Score Library
L ISTENING E XERCISES
1. What instruments play with the opening and
Pooh Bah? How are they played?
2. What instrument joins in for KoKo’s section?
3. How is the accompaniment played for Pish
Tush’s section?
4. What happens after all three characters have
sang their solo sections?
5. The second half of the song is quite different.
Describe the changes.
6. Listen to I am so Proud from The Hot Mikado.
How does the song start in comparison to the
original? Does it continue in this style? What
changes can you hear?
A NALYSIS
1. Name each of the instruments listed (page 160)
2. Explain each of the terms: Allegro non troppo
vivace, pizz, arco, sf, un poco piu vivo, tr
3. What key does the piece start in? Name all keys
in the piece.
4. Why does the key of some of the instruments
look different to the rest? Explain your answer.
5. Explain all time signatures.
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S ECTION 3
Laudate Dominum
A NALYSIS
1.
Sheet Music for Laudate Dominum is in the public domain
here:
International Music Score Library
Explain: assai piano, a mezzo voce, Andante
ma un poco sostenuto
2. Name all of the instruments in the score.
3. What instrument plays the melody in the
introduction?
L ISTENING & R ESEARCH
1.
Listen to Catherine Jenkins sing this. Name all
the instruments you hear in the introduction.
4. Describe what violin 2 plays throughout the
piece.
5. What is the time signature and key signature?
2. What type of voice does she have?
3. What type of time signature does the piece
have, compound or simple?
4. When does the choir enter? Do they sing for
the whole piece? Is there anything in the music
which gives them a signal?
5. Does the soloist sing for the whole piece?
6. How does the piece end?
7. Is ornamentation used in the performance?
8. What does the piece mean? Find a translation.
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S ECTION 4
Seasons of Love
L ISTENING & R ESEARCH
1.
This song is from a Musical. Research and
describe what a musical is.
2. Compare a musical with an Opera
The Sheet Music for this song is not in the public domain and
is still licensed. It is available via several sources, here is one:
3. What instrument plays the opening?
4. How does the song start? Is there harmony?
Musicnotes.com
5. Describe the tempo.
6. Describe the harmony during the chorus. Is it
always consistent?
A NALYSIS
1. Analyse the opening of the piece from bars 1-8.
What do you notice?
2. Now look at bars 9-16 the piano part. What do
you notice?
3. Which of the three vocal lines is busiest bars
25-30?
4. What are the intervals between the voices in
bar 56?
5. Describe the clap from bar 41
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C HAPTER 7
Church
Music &
Carols
Church Music covers the wide range of
music written for worship as well as Carols written for Christmas.
Songs Include:
Amazing Grace
Ave Maria (Schubert)
The Wexford Carol
Silent Night
S ECTION 1
Amazing Grace
Sheet Music for Amazing Grace is in the public domain here:
8notes
L ISTENING & R ESEARCH
1.
Write a brief history of the song.
2. Listen to the Soweto Gospel Choir sing this on
youtube. Describe their performance including
references to vocals, instruments and rhythm/
tempo as well as any features of Gospel Music.
Listen to Celtic Woman sing this song.
3. What instrument plays at the start?
A NALYSIS
1. What time signature does the piece have?
2. Are any phrases the same?
3. What key is the piece in?
4. Mark in the intervals between the notes on the
left hand
4. What instruments do you hear just before the
vocals?
5. Explain the dynamic markings and list them.
5. How is the opening verse sung? And the
second?
7. Why is there only one beat in the bar at the
start? What is this called?
6. Describe each of the rhythms in bar fifteen.
6. What instrument leads into the third verse?
What happens vocally?
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S ECTION 2
Ave Maria
Sheet Music for Ave Maria is in the public domain here:
International Music Score Library
L ISTENING & R ESEARCH
1. Listen to a version of the piece. Describe the
opening accompaniment.
2. Listen to Pavarotti sing it. Describe the
performance, include vocals, dynamics,
ornamentation and instrumentation.
3. What language is it?
4. Research the song, what language was it
written in?
A NALYSIS
1. The rhythms in the piece are unusual. Explain
all rhythm types.
2. What key is the piece in?
3. Is there ornamentation marked on the score?
Explain each of the markings.
4. How does the piece end? What is the symbol
above the final note?
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S ECTION 3
The Wexford Carol
An example of the Sheet Music for Wexford Carol is in the public domain here:
Donald Williams Arrangement
L ISTENING E XERCISES
Listen to the Palestrina Choir perform the song.
1. How does the song start?
2.What do you hear in the second verse? Is it the
same as the first verse?
3. What happens after the first two minutes?
Now listen to Julie Andrews perform the same
song.
1. How does this version start? Does it sound
similar to the previous piece?
2.What is the most obvious difference between the
two performances?
L ISTENING E XERCISES
1. In bar 7 what feature of Irish music is present?
2.Which voice carries the melody? Try to identify
this just by reading the music.
3. What is the range of the piece?
4. What is the widest leap in the melody?
5. Is there ornamentation marked in the music?
3. Which arrangement do you prefer? Explain.
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S ECTION 4
Silent Night
Sheet Music for Silent Night is in the public domain here:
International Music Score Library
L ISTENING & R ESEARCH
Listen to Andre Rieu perform the piece.
1. What is the soloist? What other instrument can
you hear?
2. When do the choir enter? Does the soloist
continue?
3. Research the history of the piece. Write a short
summary of what you find.
A NALYSIS
1. Name the key of this version. What is the time
signature?
2. Mark in the intervals between the Soprano/
Alto parts. What do you notice?
3. What are the most common rhythm patterns?
4. What cadence does the piece end on?
5. Examine the piece for form. Are there bars that
are the same? Are the harmonies the same in
these repeats?
6. What is the range of the tenor line?
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C HAPTER 8
2 Part Songs,
Canons &
Ostinati
2 part songs are songs including two
voices singing independent melodies.
Canons include songs that have imitations of the melody included.
Ostinati are short sections repeated.
Songs Include:
Row Row Row Your Boat
Summer is Icumen in
Falling Slowly
S ECTION 1
Row Row Row Your Boat
L ISTENING
1. Practise singing the piece. Is it major or minor?
2. This song is a round. By performing the piece
within a group, mark the points were you can
start the round on the music. Listen carefully
to each other and maintain your line.
3. This is also a children's nursery rhyme. Listen
to the music and describe why you think it
would work as a children's piece.
A NALYSIS
1. Transcribe the music into your manuscript.
Write the notes underneath.
2.Circle the primary notes in each bar (recall
which beats are strongest in this key).
3. What do you notice about the primary notes of
the piece? How would this help the round?
4.What key is this in? What relationship does the
key have to the primary notes?
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S ECTION 2
Summer is Icumen In
Sheet Music for Summer is Icumen In is in the public domain
here:
International Music Score Library
A NALYSIS
1. This song uses both Treble and Bass Clef. What
is the range of the piece?
2. What do you think the X marks are on the
score?
3. What does ronde mean?
L ISTENING & R ESEARCH
4. Examine bars 1-24. Mark in the bars that are
the same/similar. Do you notice any pattern?
1.
5. What does the final symbol on the stave mean?
Learn the “sing cuckoo” section. Your teacher
will play both sections for you until you can
sing it back. Practise singing it in two parts.
2. Listen to the Hastings Choir. How have they
attempted to recreate the original sound of the
piece?
3. The song was performed at the 1972 Summer
Olympics. Listen to the version played at the
games. Describe how the piece progresses.
What can you hear at the beginning? What
happens next? How is the “Summer is Icumen
in” section sung? What happens at the end?
4. Write a brief history of the piece using the
internet to help you.
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