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DIRECTIONS FOR GAMEYour 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!!

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RICHARD STRAUSS

Also Sprach Zarathustra: Prelude

Carnival of the Animals: “Fossils”

“American Salute” “Maple Leaf Rag”

•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.

BACH

Firebird: “Infernal Dance”

Aida: “Triumphal March”

Concerto for Two Violins in d minor: 1st

Movement

12 American Preludes: No. 9, “Tribute to Aaron Copeland

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

MOZART

Pictures at an Exhibition:

“Promenade”

Exsultate, Jubilate:

“Alleluja”

Carnival of the Animals: “Fossils”

Abdelazar:

Rondeau

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

Stravinsky

Symphony No. 5:

1st Movement

Alsp Sprach Zarathustra: Prelude

Firebird: “Infernal

Dance:

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “Dance of the

Clowns”

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

Saint-Saëns

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “Dance of the

Clowns”

“Maple Leaf Rag”

Gianni Schicchi:

“O mio babbino caro”

Carnival of the

Animals: “Fossils”

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

Gould

“American Salute” Symphony No. 5:

1st Movement

12 American Preludes: No. 9, “Tribute to Aaron Copland”

Pictures at an Exhibition:

“Promenade”

“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”

Mussorgsky/Ravel

Pictures at an Exhibition:

“Promenade”

Concerto for Two

Violins in d minor:

1st Movement

“American Salute” Abdelazar:

Rondeau

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

Vivaldi

“Take Five” Gloria in D: “Gloria

In excelsis Deo”

Aida: “Triumphal

March”

Exsultate, Jubilate:

“Alleluja”

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.

Beethoven

Exsultate, Jublilate:

“Alleluja”

Pictures at an

Exhibition:

“Promenade”

Aida: “Triumphal

March”

Symphony No. 5:

1st Movement

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

Puccini

Gianni Schicchi: “O mio babbino caro”

Firebird: “Infernal

Dance”

“Maple Leaf Rag” Carnival of the

Animals: “Fossils”

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

Verdi

Also Sprach Zarathustra:

Prelude

Aida:

“Triumphal March”

Gloria in D: “Gloria

In excelsis Deo”

“American Salute”

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

Ginastera

12 American Preludes:

No. 9, “Tribute to

Aaron Copland”

“Maple Leaf Rag”

A Midsummer

Night’s Dream:“Dance of the Clowns”

Gloria in D:

“Gloria in excelsis Deo”

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

Joplin

Concerto for Two Violins in d minor:

1st Movement

Abdelazar:

Rondeau

“Maple Leaf Rag” Symphony No. 5:

1st Movement

“Maple Leaf Rag”• Born 1868 near Texarkana, Texas• Died 1917, New York, New York• Born into a poor, black family – abandoned by his father – mother must work cleaning

houses to support the family• Goes with his mother to work, playing her employers’ pianos and teaching himself to

play• Wanted to make something of himself – helped out by a teacher who taught him for

free. Later on, Joplin sent money back to his teacher when he was old and sick.• Studied composition at an all-black college in Missouri – played piano in cafes and

clubs• The Maple Leaf Club in Missouri was a private club where Joplin played piano –

“Maple Leaf Rag” named for this club• Cheerful, rhythmic piece that makes people want to get up and dance• Right hand plays syncopated melodies while left hand plays very steady rhythms that

jump or “stride” back and forth from lower to higher pitches across the keyboard• “Maple Leaf Rag” is made up for 4 themes: A, B, C, D

Mendelssohn

Gianni Schicchi:

“O Mio babbino caro”

“American Salute”

“Take Five” A Midsummer Night’s

Dream: “Dance

Of the Clowns”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream: “Dance of the Clowns”

• Born 1809, Hamburg, Germany• Died 1847, Berlin, Germany• Was a gifted child prodigy, like Mozart• Learned to compose for and play on violin and keyboard

instruments when he was very small• Born into a close-knit, loving, well-to-do family• 17 when he composed a concert overture to

Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream• The story is a comedy, set in an enchanted forest filled

with fairies, a hobgoblin and humans• “The Dance of the Clowns” is pattern Introduction,

ABCADE, Coda.• All themes are built out of elements from the “A” tune.

Purcell

Carnival of the

Animals: “Fossils”

Aida:

“Triumphal March”

Abdelazar:

Rondeau

“American Salute”

Abedelazar: Rondeau• Born 1659, London, England• Died 1695, London, England• His greatest love, and most of his music, was for the theater• Began as a singer• Uncle helped get him into the King’s private choir• Singing career ended when his voice changed• At 11 or 12, wrote a song for the King’s birthday – because one of

England’s greatest composers• Abdelazar (The Moor’s Revenge) is a play written by a woman – a

story full of mistaken identities and trickery – not a happy tale. The Rondeau is bright and dance-like.

• In the Rondeau, the music always returns to the main theme• (A B A C A)

Desmond

Pictures at an

Exhibition:“Promenade”

“American Salute”

“Take Five” Symphony No. 5:

1st Movement

“Take Five”• Born 1924, San Francisco, California• Died 1977, New York City• Had an unhappy childhood – music was his release• Learned violin in elementary school; switched to clarinet in high

school and then added saxophone, for which he was best known• Collaborated with a classically trained pianist, Dave Brubeck, who

formed a jazz quartet in 1951• Cool jazz – smooth and mellow with interesting rhythms and a

strong beat but without heavy percussion• Desmond was one of the main cool jazz musicians• Written in 5/4 time, opens with piano, then the tune is played by the

clarinet• ABA form• Two sections of improvisation, first by the clarinet, then the piano

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