Music From The Romantic Period
(c. 1780-1910)
Lesson 1 aims:
Explore and be able to identify features of music from the Romantic period.
To place the romantic period into historical musical context.
- Listen to all of the pieces from the above link in pairs and choose your favourite piece of music.
- Then write about the dynamics, tempo and
instrumentation in the Notes app.
- Copy your written note into the Padlet link
Romantic music came into its own at the beginning of the 19th century. Music from this era sounds almost boundless and free from any limitations of form.
Much of this music is programmatic—that is, it is meant to describe something, perhaps a scene in nature or a particular feeling.
DO NOW
When do you think this music was written?
The Orchestra
from the Romantic period onwards
Lesson 2 aims:
Explore the instruments of the orchestra and be able to identify instrument families and specific instruments.
What are the differences between:
- Oboe and clarinet
- Bassoon and bass clarinet
- Trumpet, trombone, French horn
- Bowing (arco) and plucking (pizzicato)
Find out...
Which instrument family does the saxophone belong to?
How many strings does a harp have?
Which is the highest sounding string instrument?
Which is the lowest sounding brass instrument?
Are timpani drums tuned or untuned?
Are bassoons single or double reeded?
Image courtesy of DSO Kids: www.mydso.com/dso-kids/visit-the-symphony/orchestra-seating-chart
Star Wars - Project
Lesson 3
Learning aims:
- To explore the instrumentation of the Main Theme from Star Wars.
- Develop keyboard skills and to experiment with orchestral instruments.
- Develop Logic Pro X skills in preparation for film music.
- Level 5+
To play and record one melody line accurately that lasts for around 30 seconds.
- Level 7+
To play and record two lines accurately.
- Level 8+
To accurately play and record two lines at the same time.
The Light
The main theme represents Luke Skywalker, the hero.
The Dark
The Imperial march represents Darth Vader, the villain!
The Force
The omnipresent, mystical, invisible force that binds all life in the universe.
Did you know?
The music for Star Wars was written in the 1979, when the first Star Wars film was released. So the music was not written during the Romantic period, but is written as though it were. A large orchestra with dramatic motifs, soaring dynamics and emotionally driven instrumentation.
The Pianoforte and before
The piano's development during the romantic period
Lesson 1 aims:
Explore the capabilities of the piano and how it was developed and written for during the Romantic period. "Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, 1st movement"
Moonlight Sonata - 3rd movement
by Beethoven
The 3rd movement is incredibly virtuosic.
Before the piano
- Clavichord (developed early 14th century
- Harpsichord (developed early 15th century)
PIANO FACTS
Fact 1: There are 7500 working parts in the body of each piano.
Fact 2: The piano is generally considered to be a member of the percussion family because it only makes noise when a hammer hits a string.
Fact 3: The piano is known as the “King of the Instruments” because its range goes from the lowest note that you can play on a double-bassoon to the highest note that you can play on a piccolo.
Moonlight Sonata
1st movement
by Beethoven
Soft pedal - sostenuto pedal - sustain pedal
/ una corda