Download MUSIC Project Plans

MUSIC Project Plans
MYTHS AND LEGENDS
Music Project 1 - Mythical music (Key Stages 1 and 2)
Aims of the lesson: To learn about ancient
Greek myths about the origins of music and look
at some modern-day instruments mentioned in
Greek myths.
Activity: One of the most famous musical
instruments to be mentioned in ancient Greek
myths is the pan pipe. According to myth, the
Greek god Pan met a beautiful nymph called
Syrinx. She ran away from him and didn't
stop to hear his compliments, but he pursued
her from Mount Lycaeum until she came to the
bank of the River Ladon where he overtook her.
She called on the water nymphs for help. Just as
Pan laid hands on her, she was turned into the
river reeds. When the air blew through the
reeds, it produced a plaintive melody. Pan took
some of the reeds to make an instrument which
he called a syrinx (pan pipes), in honour of the
nymph. Lt should be fairly easy to obtain some
pan pipes. Show this instrument to the pupils
and give them the opportunity to play the pan
pipes. lt is one of the easiest instruments to
play, so no musical ability is needed. There are
other myths that involve music:
Orpheus could make such beautiful music
that even trees and animals would crowd
around him to listen. Orpheus was in love
with Eurydice. But she got bitten by a snake
and died inconsolable. Hewent down to the
Underworld, playing his music as skillfully as
he could, mesmerising the guards. Moved by
his music, Hades
told him to go back,
promising to send Eurydice after him. The
only condition was that Orpheus not look
back on his way up. Orpheus started on his
way back, but when he had almost reached
the light, he could
not resist and turned around. He saw his
beloved Eurydice's shadow dissolve behind
him. Orpheus tried to go back, but he could
no longer get into the Underworld. Then
Orpheus started wandering around the
world, playing his harmonious music, until he
was murdered, and he went to the
Underworld to be with his Eurydice.
Apollo, the son of Zeus and Leto, is the god
of music, playing a golden lyre. The god
Apollo was worshipped by the ancient
Greeks and Romans. Pan challenged Apollo
to a music contest. Pan blew on his pipes,
and was just as pleased with himself as his
great follower Midas. Then Apollo struck the
strings of his lyre. Apollo was deemed to be
the winner of the contest. But Midas did not
agree with the judgment. ln punishment,
Apollo gave him donkey's ears.
Marsyas was a satyr who challenged Apollo
to a contest of music. He had found a flute
on the ground, tossed away after being
invented by Athena because it made her
cheeks puffy. Marsyas lost and was flayed
alive in a cave. His blood turned into the
river Marsyas. Another variation is that
Apollo played his instrument (the lyre)
upside down. Marsyas could not and so
Apollo hung him from a tree and flayed him
alive.
lf you want to review this information with the
class, the Music Project 1 resources file offers
this information as a projectable PDF and
PowerPoint presentation. Ask the pupils to
research some ancient Greek and Roman
myths that involve music or musical
instruments. There are a number of musical
instruments mentioned by the ancient Greeks
and Romans. They include: aulos or flute, bells,
pan pipes, lyre, harp, horns and drums. In
mythology, music was believed to be inspired
by muses. The Music Project 1 resources file
offers an information sheet on the nine muses.
Extension: To extend this project, ask the
pupils what type of musical instrument they
would choose if they were an angry
god/goddess or a happy god/goddess?
Ask the pupils to think about the sounds that
different musical instruments offers, such as
drums can sound loud and angry or flutes can
sound happy and joyful.
The Music Project 1 resources file includes an information sheet on mythical muses and information
on myths and music provided as a PDF and PowerPoint presentation.
MUSIC PROJECT 1 - Resources
MYTHS AND LEGENDS
MUSIC PROJECT 1 - Resources
MYTHS AND LEGENDS