Term 3 Music

I'm a little late getting my own Term 3 music together but I wanted to share some links in case they are helpful to anyone! (Also, I love blogging these lists because I enjoy reflecting on our past years and experiences!  It is also a way that the kids can go back and see what their education consisted of in their early years!)

Beethoven

Our local symphony did a program about "Composers of Hope" and played the 1st movement of Symphony #5 and explained how Beethoven is a symbol of hope.  Even though he began to lose his hearing around the time of his second symphony, he continued to compose and work in music!  He never gave up hope!

Symphony #5 (1st movement)

Some speculate that the famous theme in this movement is the sound of a bird calling (yellow hammer sparrow) and some have stated that the theme is "fate" coming to knock on the door.  My kids enjoy watching the Fantasia video to this movement!

2. Fur Elise

Possibly one of Beethoven's most famous keyboard works, no one knows for sure who "Elise" was!  There were several women and students who were close to Beethoven and it is unclear which "Elizabeth" or "Therese" was the namesake!  The piece is a great example of Rondo Form (ABACADA.)  When I introduce this to kids, I give them the job of identifying the "A" section!

3. Symphony #8 (2nd movement)

Beethoven's friend invented the metronome and some say that this movement is an homage to his friend when the wind instruments play the constant "tick tick tick" throughout the piece!

4. Moonlight Sonata (all three movements)

Beethoven uses the developments of the piano to show off how amazing the instrument can play low and high notes at both a soft and loud volume.  Previously in history, keyboard instruments were limited in their dynamics (loud/soft) because of how they were constructed.  The damper pedal was also a new development in the instrument and Beethoven loved composing music to showcase this technique.

5. Rondo a Capriccio (also called Rage Over a Lost Penny)

The alternate title was given to this piece by Beethoven's friend.  It has a lot of Hungarian and Gypsy stylistic elements. Robert Schumann wrote of the work that "it would be difficult to find anything merrier than this whim... It is the most amiable, harmless anger, similar to that felt when one cannot pull a shoe from off the foot," citing the work as an instance of Beethoven's earthliness against those fixated upon a transcendental image of the composer (1

6. Symphony #9

Beethoven was completely deaf by the time this symphony was written and this was the first symphony that used a chorus along with the orchestra.  I love that our hymn this term lines up with this symphony! Before listening to the movement, I would suggest watching the musicians and conductor from the San Francisco Symphony talk about the music. What a remarkable piece to finish this amazing composer study.


I really didn't change or have anything specific to add to the hymn and folksong list!  We will be following the Ambleside Online schedule for March, April, and May!

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