AUGUST
Jake Runestad
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Fun Facts about Runestad's Life: Jake Runestad is an award winning composer of music for orchestra, choir, wind ensemble, chamber ensembles and opera. He is widely considered to be one of America's greatest young composers living and working today. Jake believes music has the power to bring about positive change in the world, and his compositions reflect this message. Conductors, performers and audiences continue to praise his music for its ability to connect with the head and the heart, which is why he is one of the most frequently performed composers of choral music in the world.
Links: JakeRunestad.com
Links: JakeRunestad.com
Class Notes - How Do Composers Compose?
Stellenbosch University Choir - Alleluia
UJ Choir - I Will Lift Mine Eyes
SEPTEMBER
Georges Bizet
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Fun Facts about Bizet's Life: Bizet composed over 150 compositions for piano, a symphony, orchestral suites, and operas. He is most famously known for his opera Carmen, based on a story by Merimee. Bizet incorporated Spanish rhythms in his music specifically to set the stage for the story. When Carmen first opened in Paris, the reviews were terrible. Many critics said there were no good tunes in it, so audiences stayed away. In the middle of the night during the first round of performances, Bizet died. He was only 36. Four months later, Carmen opened in Vienna, Austria, and was a smash hit. It is now one of the most popular operas ever written and is performed all over the world. Bizet never knew that it would become his masterpiece.
Quote: "Ah, music! What a beautiful art! But what a wretched profession!" - Bizet
Links: Classics for Kids / DSO Kids
Quote: "Ah, music! What a beautiful art! But what a wretched profession!" - Bizet
Links: Classics for Kids / DSO Kids
CARMEN - The Characters
"Habanera" from Carmen - Opera
"Toreador" from Carmen - Opera
Kids Meet An Opera Singer
OCTOBER
Edvard Grieg
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Fun Facts about Grieg's Life: During almost all of Grieg's lifetime, his native country of Norway was struggling to become an independent nation. Because Grieg's music played an important part in giving the Norwegian people their own identity, he is regarded as a hero in Norway. Many of his compositions are based on the sound of Norwegian folk songs. They paint a musical picture of the mountains, forests, and streams of this beautiful country. Greig's most famous composition is the music he wrote for the Norwegian play "Peer Gynt." It's the story of a boy named Peer who falls in love with a beautiful girl, but he isn't allowed to marry her. Instead, he runs away into the mountains and is captured by trolls who take him to their King. Peer tries to escape and is chased by the trolls, but eventually he gets away.
Quote: "I am sure my music has a taste of codfish in it." - Grieg
Links: DSO Kids
Quote: "I am sure my music has a taste of codfish in it." - Grieg
Links: DSO Kids
The Story of Peer Gynt
Move It!
In the Hall of the Mountain King - Peer Gynt
How did the TEMPO change
from the beginning of the music to the end?
How did the DYNAMICS change
from the beginning of the music to the end?
Hair Up from TROLLS
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Body Percussion Play-Along
A Section
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B Section
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NOVEMBER
Johann Sebastian Bach
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Education: At a young age, Johann Sebastian Bach's father taught him to play the violin and the harpsichord. After his parents died, Bach lived with his older brother who taught him the organ.
Fun Facts about Bach's Life: Bach was a musical genius who played the organ and composed music for organ, lute, harpsichord, choirs, orchestras, etc. He was very impatient and once threw his wig at a musician who didn't play the right notes! He spent a month in jail because he tried to quit his job composing and playing for a Duke to go work for a Prince. During that month in jail, he wrote forty-six pieces of music, many of which are still performed today. Since most of his music was written to be performed in a church service only once and then thrown out, very little of his music was published during his lifetime. It was for this reason that Bach composed more music than almost any other composer. However, he was not recognized as a musical genius until about 100 years after his death. Bach had twenty children! Five were named Johann, two Johanna and four grew up to become famous musicians.
Quote: "I worked hard. Anyone who worked as hard as I did can achieve the same results." - Bach
Links: Classics for Kids / DSO Kids
Fun Facts about Bach's Life: Bach was a musical genius who played the organ and composed music for organ, lute, harpsichord, choirs, orchestras, etc. He was very impatient and once threw his wig at a musician who didn't play the right notes! He spent a month in jail because he tried to quit his job composing and playing for a Duke to go work for a Prince. During that month in jail, he wrote forty-six pieces of music, many of which are still performed today. Since most of his music was written to be performed in a church service only once and then thrown out, very little of his music was published during his lifetime. It was for this reason that Bach composed more music than almost any other composer. However, he was not recognized as a musical genius until about 100 years after his death. Bach had twenty children! Five were named Johann, two Johanna and four grew up to become famous musicians.
Quote: "I worked hard. Anyone who worked as hard as I did can achieve the same results." - Bach
Links: Classics for Kids / DSO Kids
Infographic from TakeLessons.com
Quaver's Marvelous World - The Baroque Period
"Toccata and Fugue in D minor" - Organ
"Toccata and Fugue in D minor" - Harpsichord
"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
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BACH Google Doodle
An interactive experience encouraging players to compose a two measure melody of their choice. With the press of a button, the Doodle then uses machine learning to harmonize the custom melody into Bach’s signature music style (or a Bach 80's rock style hybrid if you happen to find a very special easter egg in the Doodle). |
DECEMBER
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
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Fun Facts about Tchaikovsky's Life: Even though Tchaikovsky was a good musician as a kid, that wasn't considered an "acceptable" profession, so his parents made him study law instead. Eventually, he gave up his legal job and went to the St. Petersburg Conservatory. After he graduated, he moved to Moscow to teach at the new conservatory there. It's now named for him. Tchaikovsky traveled all over Europe for performances of his music. In 1891, he even came to America for the opening of Carnegie Hall, where he was invited to conduct his music. Tchaikovsky's music for ballet is some of the finest ever written. His most famous is The Nutcracker Suite.
Quote: "Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy." - Tchaikovsky
Links: Classics for Kids / DSO Kids
Quote: "Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy." - Tchaikovsky
Links: Classics for Kids / DSO Kids
Infographic from TakeLessons.com
Quaver's Marvelous World - The Romantic Period
The Nutcracker Ballet
Swan Lake
JANUARY
Sara Bareilles
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Education: Sara Bareilles is a Singer/Songwriter/Actress/Author who was born and raised in Eureka, California by her mother, a funeral home worker, and her father, an insurance adjuster. She has three sisters: Stacey, Jennifer, and Melody. Growing up, she sang in the high school choir and local community musical theater productions. After graduating high school, she studied communications at the University of California in Los Angeles where she was a member of the a cappella singing group Awaken a Cappella. ("a capella" means singing without instruments.) She taught herself to play the piano as well as all other instruments she has been seen playing.
Fun Facts about Bareilles' Life: After college, Sara Bareilles stepped out as a solo artist, earning a major record deal in 2005. Her hit single "Love Song" reached no. 4 on the Billboard charts and earned her a 2009 Grammy Award nomination. In 2013, her album The Blessed Unrest entered the charts at number 2, with her single "Brave" surpassing "Love Song" as her longest-running single. Sara has sold over two million albums and over nine million singles and downloads in the U.S. alone, and has earned seven Grammy Award Nominations for her music. She appeared as a celebrity judge in the third season of NBC's The Sing-Off, a competition about a capella groups which is where the vocal group Pentatonix was discovered. Sara also composed music, wrote lyrics and starred in the Broadway musical Waitress, for which she earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score in 2016, and a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. In April 2018, she received acclaim for her portrayal of Mary Magdalene in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series. In 2012, VH1 named Sara one of the Top 100 Greatest Women in Music, and her book, Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song, is a New York Times bestseller.
Quote: “Music for me has always been my sanctuary. It's the place I go to process my world and make it better.” - Bareilles
Links: Sara Bareilles Artist Website
Fun Facts about Bareilles' Life: After college, Sara Bareilles stepped out as a solo artist, earning a major record deal in 2005. Her hit single "Love Song" reached no. 4 on the Billboard charts and earned her a 2009 Grammy Award nomination. In 2013, her album The Blessed Unrest entered the charts at number 2, with her single "Brave" surpassing "Love Song" as her longest-running single. Sara has sold over two million albums and over nine million singles and downloads in the U.S. alone, and has earned seven Grammy Award Nominations for her music. She appeared as a celebrity judge in the third season of NBC's The Sing-Off, a competition about a capella groups which is where the vocal group Pentatonix was discovered. Sara also composed music, wrote lyrics and starred in the Broadway musical Waitress, for which she earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score in 2016, and a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. In April 2018, she received acclaim for her portrayal of Mary Magdalene in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series. In 2012, VH1 named Sara one of the Top 100 Greatest Women in Music, and her book, Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song, is a New York Times bestseller.
Quote: “Music for me has always been my sanctuary. It's the place I go to process my world and make it better.” - Bareilles
Links: Sara Bareilles Artist Website
Love Song
WAITRESS the Musical - Trailer
BRAVE
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PARTS OF A SONG
VERSE = the part of the song that tells the story
REFRAIN = the "catchy" part of the song that repeats
BRIDGE = a short, different sounding part / usually comes before the final refrain
BRAVE
_______________ You can be amazing! You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug. You can be the outcast or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love, or you can start speaking up! Nothing's gonna hurt you the way that words do when they settle 'neath your skin. Kept on the inside and no sunlight, sometimes a shadow wins. But I wonder what would happen if you…
_______________ Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE with what you want to say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be BRAVE!
_______________ Everybody's been there, everybody's been stared down by the enemy. Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing, bow down to the mighty. Don't run, just stop holding your tongue! Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live. Maybe one of these days you can let the light in. Show me how big your brave is!
_______________ Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE with what you want to say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be BRAVE!
_______________ And since your history of silence won't do you any good. Did you think it would? Let your words be anything but empty. Why don't you tell them the truth?
_______________ Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE with what you want to say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you
_______________ Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE with what you want to say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be BRAVE!
_______________ Everybody's been there, everybody's been stared down by the enemy. Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing, bow down to the mighty. Don't run, just stop holding your tongue! Maybe there's a way out of the cage where you live. Maybe one of these days you can let the light in. Show me how big your brave is!
_______________ Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE with what you want to say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be BRAVE!
_______________ And since your history of silence won't do you any good. Did you think it would? Let your words be anything but empty. Why don't you tell them the truth?
_______________ Say what you wanna say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE with what you want to say and let the words fall out honestly. I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I wanna see you be BRAVE! I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna see you
ROAR vs. BRAVE
FEBRUARY
Duke Ellington
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Fun Facts about Ellington's Life: In 1923, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington moved to New York City to become a bandleader and was one of the creators of the "big band" sound, which fueled the "swing" era. He is considered by many to be America's greatest composer, bandleader, and recording artist. His first great achievements came in the three-minute song form, and he later wrote music for all kinds of settings: the ballroom, comedy stage, nightclub, movie house, theater, concert hall, and the cathedral. His blues writing resulted in new conceptions of form, harmony, and melody, and he became the master of the romantic ballad and created numerous works that featured the great soloists in his jazz orchestra.
Quote: “I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.” - Ellington
Links: Scholastic History of Jazz / PBS Jazz
Quote: “I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.” - Ellington
Links: Scholastic History of Jazz / PBS Jazz
It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
Duke Ellington
The Piano Prince and His Orchestra
MARCH
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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Fun Facts about Mozart's Life: Mozart was a child prodigy, which meant he had an amazing memory for music and could learn it very quickly. He was traveling all over Europe playing music by the time he was 6. Because of his constant travels, he eventually learned to speak 15 different languages. Mozart composed his first piece of music at age 5; he had his first piece published when he was 7; and he wrote his first opera when he was 12! Mozart wrote over 600 works during his lifetime including 41 symphonies and 27 piano concertos. Three of his most famous operas include The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni. He is also famous for his Requiem mass. Mozart's parents and big sister used to call him "Wolfie".
Quote: “Love, love, love - that is the soul of genius.” - Mozart
Links: Classics for Kids / DSO Kids
Quote: “Love, love, love - that is the soul of genius.” - Mozart
Links: Classics for Kids / DSO Kids
Infographic from TakeLessons.com
Quaver's Marvelous World - The Classical Period
Eine Kleine Nacht Musik
Rondo alla Turca
12 Variations on "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"
APRIL
Ludwig Van Beethoven
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Fun Facts about Beethoven's Life: Beethoven is considered to be one of the greatest musical geniuses who ever lived. He led music into a new era by putting his own feelings into his music and making it more passionate. He also increased the size of the orchestra and even added a chorus in his 9th symphony. He may be most famous for his 9 symphonies, but he also wrote many other kinds of music such as chamber and choral music, piano music, string quartets, and an opera. When Beethoven was around 26 years old, he started going deaf, so he would bite on a stick to feel the vibrations of his piano. Even though he could no longer hear well enough to play, he composed some of his best music even after he was deaf.
Quote: "Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of women." - Beethoven
Links: Classics for Kids / DSO Kids
Quote: "Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of women." - Beethoven
Links: Classics for Kids / DSO Kids
Fun Facts about The Classical Period
- All the great Classical Composers lived in Europe.
- George Washington was born during the Classical Period in 1732.
- Music was predictable and well-organized in 4 and 8 bar measures called phrases.
- The Harpsichord was replaced by the piano.
- Europeans loved to go to coffee houses at night to talk - a lot like Starbucks today!
- The first flush toilet was invented.
- The first camera was invented - but it took 8 hours to take the picture!
- George Washington was born during the Classical Period in 1732.
- Music was predictable and well-organized in 4 and 8 bar measures called phrases.
- The Harpsichord was replaced by the piano.
- Europeans loved to go to coffee houses at night to talk - a lot like Starbucks today!
- The first flush toilet was invented.
- The first camera was invented - but it took 8 hours to take the picture!
Illustrating History - BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 5
Beethoven's Wig!
"Ode To Joy" (Symphony No. 9)
MAY
John Williams
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Fun Facts about Williams' Life: William's worked as a jazz pianist in NYC for a while before moving back to California to start his career in composing music for movies. Since the early 1970's, Williams has scored more than 100 films, including many of the scores for Steven Spielberg's movies like Jaws, ET, Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park. In addition to being a film composer, Williams is also a famous conductor! He began conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1980 and retired in 1993. He has also appeared as guest conductor with many major orchestras, and has written many concert pieces. He has also composed the themes for the NBC News, the 1987 International Special Olympics, and the 1984, 1988, and 1996 Summer Olympic Games. His "Olympic Theme and Fanfare" is the most recognizable music played at the Olympic games. Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, and 22 Grammy Awards. With 50 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the second most-nominated individual, after Walt Disney. In 2004, Williams was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, and will receive the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award in 2016.
Quote: "I developed from very early on, a habit of writing something every day, good or bad." - Williams
Links: DSO Kids
Quote: "I developed from very early on, a habit of writing something every day, good or bad." - Williams
Links: DSO Kids
John Williams Film Medley
"Olympic Fanfare & Theme " John Williams
( "Bugler's Dream" Intro by Leo Arnaud )
NBC Nightly News Opening Theme
John Williams
John Williams Interview
30th Anniversary of "Olympic Fanfare & Theme "
JUNE
Lin-Manuel Miranda
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Fun Facts about Miranda's Life: After graduating college, Miranda embarked on an acting career in New York City, appearing in films and on television. He became a regular on the children's series The Electric Company and appeared on Sesame Street. He also performed with a hip-hop improv group which helped to influence his writing style. His first musical, In the Heights, was inspired by the Hispanic neighborhood in upper Manhattan where he grew up. It blended hip-hop and salsa and starred Miranda in the lead role. In the Heights won two Drama Desk Awards, four Tony Awards and was also nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Its original-cast recording also won the 2008 Grammy Award for best musical show album. After reading a biography about Alexander Hamilton, Miranda created his next hit musical about the life of Hamilton, who rose from obscure origins on the small Caribbean island of Nevis to become a leading US statesman and the first US Secretary of the Treasury. Miranda saw a quintessential American story, one that he perceived as akin to the humble beginnings of rappers. Hamilton opened on Broadway to rave reviews and featured a racially diverse cast, with Miranda again starring in the title role. In 2016, Hamilton was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and that year, received an unprecedented 16 Tony nominations. It eventually won 11 Tony's, falling one short of the record. Hamilton was named best musical, and Miranda won for best book and best original score. In July 2016 he made his final appearance in the show. While working on Hamilton, Miranda was also contributing to the soundtrack for the Disney animated film Moana, and he earned an Academy Award nomination for the song “How Far I’ll Go.” His connection to Disney doesn't end there! He recently starred in the film Mary Poppins Returns as Jack, and is slated to assist in writing new music for the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Miranda also wrote and recorded the theme song to the new Netflix animated series The Magic School Bus Rides Again.
Quote: "You are perfectly cast in your life. I can't imagine anyone but you in the role. Go play!" - Miranda
Quote: "You are perfectly cast in your life. I can't imagine anyone but you in the role. Go play!" - Miranda
In The Heights
Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda - Interview
Lin-Manuel Miranda - On Writing How far I'll Go
Silent "E" is a Ninja! - The Electric Company
Silent "E" is a Ninja! (Behind the Scenes) - The Electric Company
One Bad Apple - The Electric Company
The Magic School Bus Rides Again - Netflix
A Cover Is Not the Book - Mary Poppins Returns
JULY
John Phillip Sousa
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Fun Facts about Sousa's Life: Sousa became conductor of the Marine Band where he remained for 12 years, serving 5 Presidents. Also known as “The President’s Own,” the Marine Band became a premier military band under Sousa’s tutelage, making him one of America’s most respected conductors and composers. Known as “The March King,” Sousa composed over 100 marches, in addition to concert pieces, operettas, overtures and suites. On Christmas Day 1898, Sousa composed “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” which eventually became the U.S. national march. Sousa was a staunch supporter of general music education in our schools, and often advocated for composers' rights. In 1893, Sousa worked in conjunction with J.W. Pepper to create a marching tuba. Dubbed a sousaphone, this tuba could be played in a standing or sitting position with the bell positioned to project the music over the band. In 1898, Conn created a model that Sousa preferred.
Quote: "Composers are the only people who can hear good music above bad sounds." - Sousa
Links: DSO Kids
Quote: "Composers are the only people who can hear good music above bad sounds." - Sousa
Links: DSO Kids