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MUSIC MEMORY GAME Click Button
DIRECTIONS FOR GAME Your mission is to match each of the 16 compositions with the correct composer. On each game slide, you will see a composer’s name at the top. Then you will see four colored squares with the names of four different compositions. Click on one of the squares to match the composition with the composer’s name at the top of the slide. If you get it wrong, you’ll get a “wrong answer” slide. If you get it right, you’ll get a “right answer” slide, followed by a “fact slide” about the composition and the composer. GOOD LUCK!! Click here to begin
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Prelude • Strauss born in Germany • Tone Poem written in 1896 by Richard Strauss • Tone poem is a piece that suggests strong feelings and moods or that tells a dramatic story using only instruments • Scored for very large orchestra, including pipe organ • Opens with low, ominous rumble in the pipe organ – followed by first set of motifs (A) – rising melody in unison trumpets, full brass chords, and ringing timpani pattern. Repeated with slight variation. • Third time, the chords are extended into a brilliant, full orchestra fanfare (B). Listen for the pipe organ that continues after the final chord.
Concerto for Two Violins in d minor: 1st Movement • Bach born in Germany • His death in 1750 marked the end of the Baroque era • Orphaned at the age of 10 – went to live with his older brother, J. C. Bach • Worked for the church – wrote an enormous amount of music • Often created a whole new set of choral and instrumental pieces EVERY WEEK for Sunday services • Concerto is a piece written for full orchestra with solo or solos • This piece has two solo violin parts – the second violin plays before the first violin
Exsultate, Jubilate: “Alleluja” • Mozart was born in Austria in 1756 • Began playing the harpsichord at the age of 3 • Was composing music at the age of 5 • Performing for European royalty by 6 • Wrote his first symphony at 8 and his first opera at 11 • Often deeply in debt and had trouble supporting his family • Wrote over 600 works of music by the time he died at the age of 35 (600 pieces in 30 short years!) • Exsultate, Jubilate was written when Mozart was 16 • The last movement, “Alleluja”, is still a favorite of audiences
Firebird, “Infernal Dance” • Stravinsky was born in Russia, 1882 • Died in New York, 1971 • His father was a singer but wanted his son to be an attorney • Had no interest in law and wanted to be a musician • One of the most influential composers of the 20th century • Firebird is a ballet • Music begins with a loud, crashing chord, followed by a scary, low-pitched theme (A) • Has 5 different themes but does not follow a classic “form”. The “A” theme is repeated several times
Carnival of the Animals: “Fossils” • Saint-Saëns born 1835 in Paris • Died 1921 in Algeria • Began writing music at age 4 • Father died when he was only a few months old – raised by his mother and aunt • Aunt gave him his first piano lessons • Could play dozens of Beethoven piano sonatas from memory at 11 • Composed “Carnival of the Animals” as a joke for a special Mardi Gras concert but would not allow it to be published during his lifetime – he felt it was not a “serious” piece of music • Scored for two pianos and orchestra • Instruments imitate sounds and characteristics of animals
“American Salute” • Gould was born in 1913 in New York • Died in 1996 in Florida • Was improvising at the piano and writing his first compositions almost before he was old enough to go to school • Published his first piano piece at 6 • Trained at Juilliard School of Music in New York • Worked as a pianist in a theater as a teenager • First staff pianist at the newly-opened Radio City Music Hall in the 1920’s • Composed “American Salute” in less than a day in 1943 (during WW II) for a U. S. Government Radio program • Captures the energy of soldiers marching off to war and home again, victorious • Tune is a traditional Irish marching song – became known during Civil War as “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”
Pictures at an Exhibition: “Promenade” • Mussorgsky was born 1839, Karevo, Russia • Died 1881, St. Petersburg, Russia • Born to a noble family • Had a good education – parents hoped he would follow family tradition and become military officer • Abandoned military life for music • In “Pictures at an Exhibition”, Mussorgsky takes us to a gallery where we can “walk” from picture to picture • Promenade theme will appear between each musical “picture” when entire work is heard • Solo trumpet is featured throughout • Echoes the melodic and rhythmic style of Russian folk music • Originally written for piano, but was arranged for orchestra by several composers, including French composer, Maurice Ravel
Gloria in D: “Gloria in excelsis Deo” • Born 1678, Venice, Italy • Died 1741, Vienna, Austria • Nicknamed “The Red Priest” because of his fiery red hair and because he was a priest as well as a composer • His father taught him to play the violin and became a well-known solo violinist • Since the only way to make a living as a musician was to work for the church, he became a priest and found a job as music master at a girls orphanage in Venice • Wrote over 300 concertos, mostly for violin • First section of the piece, “Gloria in excelsis Deo” is scored almost like a concerto. Listen for octave leaps and running figures in thirds. Melodies sung by chorus stay on same pitch or move by step.
Symphony No. 5: 1st Movement • Born 1770, Bonn, German • Died 1827, Vienna, Austria • Father wanted him to be a famous child prodigy like Mozart – made him practice long hours at the piano and perform in public before he was ready • Punished him for mistakes at the piano • Began to lose his hearing in his mid-20’s • People in town thought him rude – he wouldn’t speak when spoken to – townspeople didn’t know he was deaf! Communicated with his family by writing on a small chalkboard • Brahms and Schubert revered Beethoven and asked to be buried next to him when they died • Often worked on several pieces at once – juggling back and forth from one to another • Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 6 written this way and both premiered at same concert in 1808 • Symphony No. 5 is vigorous – almost angry – noisily triumphant in the end • Written in sonata form (ABA) • “A” form begins with famous four-note motif of 3 eighth notes and one half note and is repeated in different ways all through the piece • “B” form is a contrasting, lyrical theme
Gianni Schicchi: “O mio babbino caro” • Born 1858, Lucca, Italy • Died 1924, Brussels, Belgium • Undisciplined child and a poor student • Became one of the world’s most renowned opera composers • Came from a long line of musicians • Inspired to being composing after attending performance of Verdi’s “Aida” • Wrote many operas, many of which are still performed and admired • Most of his operas have sad, even tragic stories • Gianni Schicci is a comedy and Puccini’s only comic opera (short one act) • “O mio babbino caro” is sung by Lauretta who begs her father to do something to make it possible for her to marry the man that she loves • Form is ABAB1B2 • Aria is a song in an opera that features one singer
Aida: “Triumphal March” • Born 1813, Roncole, Italy • Died 1901, Milan, Italy • Studied music after his family moved to a larger city • At 20, he moved to Milan to pursue a career. Here he staged his first opera, which was a great success • Composed one “hit” opera after another over the next 50 years • Suffered a stroke in 1901 – town officials covered the street outside his room with straw so the horses wouldn’t disturb his rest • When he died, the streets of Milan were mobbed by the thousands, he was loved so much • Aida completed in 1871 and first performed at the Royal Opera House in Cairo, Egypt • Involves a love triangle between Aida, the Ethiopian king’s daughter, Radames, the leader of the Egyptian army, and the Egyptian king’s daughter • Form is ABACDEFE
12 American Preludes: No. 9, “Tribute to Aaron Copland” • Born 1916, Buenos Aires, Argentina • Died 1983, Geneva, Switzerland • Wrote music that used styles, rhythms and traditions of Argentina • Also used every-day subjects about the people and lifestyles of Argentina, such as farming and ranching • Entered the Buenos Aires conservatory of music at 12 • Became well-known in Argentina while still young – music was performed world-wide • One of the most influential Latin American composers of the 20th century • Visited the U.S. in 1945 and worked with American composer Aaron Copland • Paid tribute to Copland by writing a prelude in his 12 American Preludes • Musical explosion of fast patterns – perhaps depicting the excitement of New York City and the pleasure of discovering a new place and new ideas
