Internet Public Library Western Composers
Keywords:
Western Composers, Classical Music, Music Education, Bach, Beethoven,
Mozart, Brahms.
Description:
Surprise! This field trip is to the library, albeit the public library online. The Internet Public Library is open all the time, has no lines or late fees. You may know that you can find books online, but did you know there also is a wonderful selection of exhibits? This site features the Current Exhibition (which changes from time to time), a Featured Exhibition, and a Permanent Exhibition. In this field trip, we will look at Music History 102: A Guide to Western Composers and Their Music. The best part about this site is the audio clips. They are sprinkled throughout the pages, and with a click of your mouse, you can hear pieces of a composer’s work in stereo on your computer!
Goals and Objectives:
The goals and objectives of this site are to gain a familiarity with: (1) the history of music composers, (2) music from the different ages and music terminology, and (3) composers Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms.
Research:
(Source: Internet Public Library Online web site and Encyclopedia Britannica 1997 CD-ROM.)
In this field trip, we are going to concentrate on music history of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque Period, Classical Period and the Romantic Era. To be considered “classical” whether we are speaking about art, literature, or in this case music, it must withstand the test of time. It must be enjoyed as much today as when originally written, or appreciated more now than it was in the past.
Classical music is played for religious services, symphonies, opera and ballet. It can be performed by large orchestras, small bands or the music can be written specifically for singing with or without the accompaniment of instruments. Classical music is more complex than popular music and takes highly trained musicians to perform it well.
Classical music is composed according to certain rules, yet classical composers through the ages have differed in style. For example, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), a German composer, is considered the greatest composer of baroque music. Baroque music is highly complex, dramatic and emphasizes movement. His works are still studied today by musicians for the way he used harmony through various techniques. He was known as an outstanding orchestra player.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91), an Austrian composer, was considered to be one of the greatest musical geniuses of all times. This was a surprising feat, considering he died at such an early age. Even more amazing, he began to play and compose music at the age of four. He was one of the first musicians to work on his own without a steady income from one particular source such as a church, patron or King. He composed music, at the request of nobility, for entertainment and is one of the few composers in history to have written compositions in every musical genre of that era.
Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827) from Vienna, Austria was a musical genius of the piano and also was considered to be one of the greatest composers of all time. He showed emotion in his works, which was unheard of in his day. While he was celebrated for his musical genius, he was fighting an inner battle of becoming deaf. He no longer performed but dedicated his time to composing such works as Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major after his hearing loss. Beethoven had a great influence on other musicians.
Johannes Brahms (1833-97) from Germany was one of the greatest composers of the late 1800’s. He is known for his symphonies, piano concertos, chamber and piano music, and much more. His music contains elements of romanticism, which changed some of the formal quality of classical music with more freedom in expression. His symphonies composed later in his career were compared to Beethoven’s symphonies, which was no small feat.
Lesson Plans and Site Navigation:
1. Go to the Internet Public Library http://ipl.org/exhibit/. From time to time, the links on a web site do not work. Either skip the question or the page you have been directed to and go on. When navigating a site, you may sometimes want to use your forward and back arrows or click on the icon (links) buttons. This site contains many highlighted words, which are links. These links either provide additional information or a musical audio clip. The back arrow is the best way to go from the link back to the main work you were reading. Warning: some of the artwork displayed on this site, while classic in nature, may be unsuitable for all ages. Yet, the information located on this site is excellent. For this reason, you will receive warnings of where these pictures are located. You may want to preview this site before having students view it. You have the option of viewing this entire site at your leisure. These, of course, are only suggestions.
2. Go to The Internet Public Library online (address given above). Click on the words Permanent Exhibition on the right. Click on the words Music History 102: A Guide to Western Composers and Their Music. You will be taken to the music history page.
Here you will be instructed to download a copy of an audio player (if you do not already have one), in order to hear the audio clips. You do not have to listen to the audio clips, yet I highly recommend it. The clips load very quickly and are enjoyable.
3. A list of topics will be shown highlighted in color: The Middle Ages, The Renaissance, The Baroque Age, The Classical Period and The Romantic Era. That is as far as we will go on this trip. You are free to view the 20th Century, yet the art, in my opinion, is not appropriate for all ages. There are two other pictures, which you will be warned about in advance.
4. To begin to find the scavenger hunt questions, scroll down the screen (before you click on the words). This will give you an overall idea of the field trip. For an in-depth tour, click on the highlighted words in the index list.
5. Scroll down to The Middle Ages. Read the contents and click on each of the highlighted words that you desire; they are all age appropriate. I recommend listening to the Gregorian Chant. It is beautiful. Remember to hit the back arrow key if you have linked to text with further explanation. This will take you back to the page you were just viewing. Click on the words Middle Ages, and you will be taken to a more in-depth tour. At the end of the article, you will find the highlighted words Music History 102: Index. Click on these words to return to the index and continue the tour.
6. Scroll down to The Renaissance. Read the brief overview, and click on each of the highlighted words that you wish. I recommend that you listen to the Baroque dance suite. Click on the words Renaissance to read more about this time. Remember to hit the back arrow keys if you have linked to text with further explanation. This will take you back to the page you were just viewing. Click on the words The Renaissance, and you will be taken to a more in-depth tour. (Warning: there is a painting by Boticelli that is unsuitable for all ages.) Pictures take a second or so to load, so if you would rather not view the picture, you can scroll down past the first paragraph and read the rest. Begin with dance music of the Renaissance. At the bottom of the page, go to the highlighted words Music History 102: index. Click on those words to return to the index and continue the tour.
7. Scroll down to The Baroque Age (Warning: There is a picture by Rubens of angels that may not be appropriate for all ages.) Read the brief overview, and click on each of the highlighted words that you wish. I recommend that you listen to the works of Bach and Handel. Click on the words The Baroque Age to read more about this time. Remember to hit the back arrow keys if you have linked to text with further explanation. This will take you back to the page you were just viewing. At the bottom of the page, go to the highlighted words Music History 102: Index. Click on these words to return to the index, and continue the tour.
8. Scroll down to The Classical Period. Read the brief overview, and click on each of the highlighted words that you wish. Click on the words The Classical Period to read more about this time. Remember to hit the back arrow key if you have linked to text with further explanation. That will take you back to the page you were just viewing. I recommend that you listen to Mozart and Beethoven. At the bottom of the page, go to the highlighted words Music History 102: Index. Click on those words to return to the index, and continue the tour.
9. Scroll down to The Romantic Era. Read the brief overview, and click on each of the highlighted words that you wish. I recommend you listen to Brahms and Tchaikovsky. Click on the words The Romantic Era to read more about this time period. Remember to hit the back arrow key if you have linked to text with further explanation. This will take you back to the page you were just viewing. I recommend that you listen to the William Tell Overture. At the bottom of the page, go to the highlighted words Music History 102: Index. Click on those words to return to the index.
10. This concludes our tour. Feel free to browse this site on your own, and listen to all of the musical clips.
11. Upon completion of this trip, you may wish to do some of the additional activities.
Scavenger Hunt Questions:
Grades K-3
For younger children you may want to read the brief introduction only and not go into the details of the other pages. Even if you choose not to read the other pages, go to the links that display the music, and let them hear the different pieces.
1. Classical music is full of feelings. Name some of the feelings you have when listening to this music. (Choose one or two pieces to listen to before you answer the question.)
2. Listen to the Gregorian Chant. What does it remind you of?
3. What is one thing that happened during the Renaissance period?
4. What is classical music called for those who sing?
5. What is a symphony?
6. Name at least two composers of the Romantic Era.
7. Listen to some of the music of Bach. What is he remembered for?
8. Listen to some of the music of Beethoven. What is he remembered for?
9. Listen to some of the music of Mozart. What is he remembered for?
10.Listen to some of the music of Brahms. What is he remembered for?
Grades 4-8
1. What was a troubadour?
2. Listen to the Gregorian Chant. What was this music used for?
3. What does the word Renaissance mean? What type of music was performed during this time?
4. During the Baroque period, what were musicians hired to do?
5. During the Classical period, what description of the music could be given?
6. The Romantic Era had many composers. Listen to the pieces and indicate which one you liked the best and why.
7. List some of the talents of Bach at a young age.
8. List some of Mozart’s accomplishments.
9. Beethoven had many talents. What was one tragedy he overcame in his life?
10. Brahms was compared to which other composer and why?
Grades 9-12
1. Compare the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. What are the attributes of these different time periods?
2. What are some of the highlights of the Baroque Age?
3. The Classical Period calls several things to mind. What effect did it have on the music of the time?
4. The Romantic Era had several highlights. Name two.
5. Who were the two late Romantic Composers?
6. What is a Concerto Grosso? Explain Bach’s most famous one.
7. Explain the style that Mozart perfected in his Concerto’s later in his musical career.
8. Compare Beethoven’s style to Brahms’ style.
9. When did Beethoven decide he was not happy with his compositions and what did he do about it?
10. What two time periods and styles did Brahms mix?
Additional Activities:
· Research the various composers and the different styles of music during those eras.
· Listen to several music clips from each of the composers studied in this work. Compare and contrast them.
· Write a letter to one of the composers telling them what you like or dislike about their work.
· Write an ad for a concert (choose one famous composer) coming to town. Use 200 words or less. (Younger children can make posters by drawing pictures or using computer clip art and gluing them to the board.)
· Make a poster about one of the composers and illustrate. Indicate his birthday, when he died, his musical training, and accomplishments.
· Select one musical quality: Tone, beat, rhythm, volume (loudness or softness) etc., and listen to one of the musical clips for one specific quality.
· Research the history of the orchestra. Study the structure when it first began and compare it to one today.
· Research an opera. When did it begin? Which composer is credited with writing the first opera? What was sung and played?
· Operas and orchestras were not confined to the theatre in years past. Wealthy patrons such as Kings, noblemen or the church hired musicians to write special pieces for events. If you were a wealthy nobleman, which composer would you hire and for what occasion? Write a short paper, in 200 words or less.
· Make a list of the instruments of an orchestra. Listen to a musical clip and check off the number of instruments you can identify. Try to identify the violin, viola, drums bass instruments, clarinet, oboe, etc. If you have difficulty identifying the instruments, research each and the sound they make.
· Make a word search puzzle with the following words: Symphony, Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, tone, instruments, Renaissance, vocal, troubadours, organ, piano, music, classical, opera, string quartet, and orchestra. Remember to write them backward and upside down.
· Research the making of instruments. For example, violins were made in Italy by several families that helped put the town on the map. Italy was famous for the quality of violins that were produced. The Stradivarius originated in Italy. Make a list and research the following: Place of origin, family or individual craftsman, type of instrument, and indicate whether it is still in existence today.
· Compare the harpsichord and the piano.
· Music composition has changed through time. Research and give a 3-5-minute oral presentation. Answer these questions: What instruments were available at the time? How did the composer make use of these instruments? Did a composer al-
ways use all the instruments even if they were available? Why or why not?
· How has the acceptance of music as an art form changed through the years? Do we consider music as vital today as it was in the past? How has it changed?
· Research all the different types of music that are available today. Make a list. Do you think any of the current fads in music will endure and be considered classics? (Remember a definition of a classic is something that is appreciated as much today as it was in the past.)
· Research an orchestra conductor. Do all conductors use a baton? Do all conductors use the same hand gestures? What are some of the hand motions made by a conductor? What is the signal for speed, softness, and beats to the bar?
· Following is a list of instruments found in a modern day orchestra. Research the layout and determine why instruments are placed where they are. Make a drawing of an orchestra and label where these instruments can be found. The instruments in an orchestra are: First violins, second violins, violas, cellos, double basses, flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, trumpets, trombones/tuba, horns, percussion, and harp.
· Look up these musical terms and place them in a crossword or word search puzzle. Younger children: Arrangement, bar, notes, opera, pitch, piano, program music, rhythm, score, symphony, and tempo. Older children: Accelerando, allegro, arpeggio, baroque, bravura, classical, crescendo, continuo, dynamics, embouchure, forte, largo, lento, notation, overture, polyphony, presto, soloist, suite, symphonic poem, tremolo, and tutti.