Download Slide 1

•CLASSICAL MUSIC CAN BE FUN!
•BREAK DOWN NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE
•HISTORY IS RICH WITH EXAMPLES THAT CAN ENHANCE THE TEACHING AND UNDERSTANDING OF
HISTORICAL EVENTS
•PUPILS TODAY EXPECT AND RESPOND BETTER TO VISUAL,AURAL AND KINETIC LESSONS.
•PASSIVE LISTENERS ARE A THING OF THE PAST!
•MUSIC IS ,HOWEVER ,ONE PASSIVE ACTIVITY THAT CAN STIMULATE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND
APPRECIATION OF AN ASPECT OF HISTORY THAT IS BEING STUDIED.
•MUSIC CHOSEN MUST HAVE A DIRECT LINK TO WHAT YOU ARE STUDYING.
•CLASSICAL MUSIC CAN ALSO PROVIDE FOR A CALMING ATMOSPHERE IN A CLASS WHEN THEY ARE DOING
INDIVIDUAL WORK IN CLASS .
•EG: BAROQUE MUSIC – BACH AND VIVALDI
•MOZART IS ALSO VERY GOOD TO USE AS BACKGROUND MUSIC.
FRENCH REVOLUTION
ANCIEN REGIME: MUSIC
REFLECTED A GRANDIOSE
STYLE WHICH MIRRORED
THE OPULANCE OF THE
ROYAL COURT.
MUSIC TO CONSIDER:
• CHARPENTIER – TE DEUM
•HEINRICH BIBER – MISSA
SALISBURGENSIS
•LULLY – MUSIC OF THE
COURT OF LOUIS XIV
JEAN BAPTISTE LULLY
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
• “La Marseilleis” – Revolutionary Song
•“March To The Scaffold” – Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz
• Dramatic evocation of the Reign of Terror – guillotine.
•Napoleonic Era – Beethoven: Symphony No 3 “Eroica” – dedicated to
Napoleon, but dedication later removed!
•1812 Overture – Tchaikovsky – dramatic tone picture of Napoleon’s invasion
of Russia in 1812 – link with concept of NATIONALISM
Music that reflects Imperialism:
•Edward Elgar – Edwardian Era
•British Empire at its zenith
•Pomp & Circumstance March No.1 – also
commonly refered to as “Land of Hope and
Glory”
•Last Night of the Proms – jingoism
•Rule Britannia – “Rule Brittania Brittania
rules the waves”
•March of the Mogul Emperors from “Crown
of India Suite”
•William Walton – Coronation March “Crown
Imperial”
music and ideology:
totalitarianism
“ …only one thing can redeem you (Jews) from the burden of your curse: the
redemption of Ahasverus - total destruction”
RICHARD WAGNER: German composer in the 19th Century
According to National Socialism there were THREE master composers
that represented good Germanic music: Ludwig van Beethoven
Richard Wagner
Anton Bruckner
Beethoven – possessing “ heroic German spirit”
Wagner – virulent Anti-Semite – Hitler’s favourite composer!
Bruckner – genuine love of the “great German Fatherland”
Richard Wagner – Nordic mythology infused his
music.
•“Der Ring Des Niebelungen”
•Struggle between the Gods and the
“underworld” – between the Aryan Race and
the “untermenschen”
•Rhinemaidens – Pure Aryan stock – corrupted
by the evil Alberich who steals their gold from
the River Rhine
•Analogy with Jews who “stole” money from
German people?
•Presentation of these characters reflects the
Anti-Semitic nature of Wagner’s music.
Pieces to consider playing: The Ride of the Valkyries
Siegfried’s Funeral March
“The Valkyries” – note the Viking/Nordic influences!
Alberich – anti-Semitic features
“Alberich, the greedy merchant Jew, who becomes the power-crazed goblin-demon
lusting after Aryan maidens” (Richard Wagner)
“degenerate” music in third
reich
The words “JEWISH” “DEGENERATE” and “BOLSHEVIK” were commonly used to
describe any art or music not acceptable to the Third Reich.
Reich Music Chamber (Reichsmusikkammer) required a registry of all German
musicians.
Music of composers such as Mendelssohn, Schoenberg and Mahler were banned
from being played or performed.
Jazz was also considered as degenerate as its origins were traced back to AfroAmerican roots.
Examples: Gustav Mahler – 1st Movement from Symphony No.6 – listen to the
rhythm - Nazi jackboot march! – prophetic vision from a composer who died in
1911!
MUSIC AND THE HOLOCAUST
•HENRYK GORECKI – “SYMPHONY OF SORROWFUL SONGS” – 3RD
Movt.
•LAMENT OF YOUNG JEWISH GIRL SENT TO AUSCHWITZ –
INSCRIPTION ON WALL IN PRISON
RUSSIAN MUSIC WAS HEAVILY CENSORED UNDER STALIN
•DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH – “An artist’s response to just criticism” – biting sarcasm.
•Symphony No.5 – appeared just after Pravda had denounced Shostakovich’s music as
non-formalist
•Coercive music to highlight terror under Stalin.
•Symphony No.7 “Leningrad” – “My Symphony is about the city and its people that were
attacked by Hitler and finished off by Stalin.”
•Symphony No.8 – 3nd Movt.- Motor-like rhythms which emphasises frenetic pace of
Stalin’s 5 Year Plans
MUSIC AND AMERICAN HISTORY
MUSIC AND THE “ROARING TWENTIES”
•George Gershwin – “Rhapsody in Blue”
•Scott Joplin – “The Entertainer” - Ragtime
•A reflection of American Optimism.
MUSIC AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION
•Aaron Copland – “Fanfare for the Common Man”
•Commissioned by the PWA to inspire American workers.
•Aaron Copland – “A Lincoln Portrait”
•Aaron Copland – “Simple Gifts” from Old American Songs –
optimism in dark days of depression.
Krzysztof Penderecki – “Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima”
Listen to the dissonances produced – sounds of shriking and breaking of glass – not
pleasant to listen to but it does present a very effective sound picture.
John Adams – “Nixon in China” and “Satyagraha” – Operas that deal with topical
historical issues.
John Adams – “On the Transmigration of Souls” – September 11 attacks
WHERE TO ACQUIRE MUSIC?
•LOOK & LISTEN
•MUSICA
•MUSIC DOWNLOADS
•WWW.AMAZON.CO.UK
•WWW.ARKIVMUSIK.COM
•NAXOS – INEXPENSIVE MUSIC
LABEL