the great locomotive chase
DESCRIPTION
Robert W. Smith This PowerPoint presentation covers a brief history of Robert W. Smith, and an extensive Piece Duration: 4 minutes explanation of the story behind the composition. This presentation also covers the Presentation Duration: 45 minutes compositional techniques used by Smith, and a related information section that may involve discussion with your students. All Powerpoints contain director notes, and resources.TRANSCRIPT
The Great
Locomotive Chase
(2000)Robert W. Smith
Created by John Sierakowski (2007)
Northern Illinois University
Grade 2
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The Great Locomotive Chase
• Commissioned and dedicated to the 1999-2000 Tapp Middle School (GA) Symphonic Band
• Composer Robert W. Smith– Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual– The Tempest– Encanto
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History behind the composition
• Follows the story of Union spy James Andrews in his efforts to cut off resources to the confederate army during the Civil War.
• The Confederate Railroad system.
• “Boldest Civil War adventure.”
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Andrews’ Mission
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Sounds Easy?
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The Story Unfolds
• Andrews’ group travels from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Marrietta, Georgia.
• Total of twenty men that participated in the mission.
• Big Shanty, Georgia (now Kennesaw)
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The General
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The Chase Begins
• William Allen Fuller – The Pursuer
• As “The General” burns through Georgia towns, Fuller and Murphy chase on foot and handcar.
• Derailed Handcar leads Fuller to take control of a locomotive in Etowah.
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The Chase continues
• “Yonah” pursues “The General”
• Minutes pass in between Andrews’ departure and Fuller’s arrival.
• Fuller and Anthony run into more pulled up tracks.
• Fuller commandeers the “Texas.”
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“Texas” pursues “The General”
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The Chase Ends
• “The General” was running out of water and wood.
• Abandoning the train.
• The hunt for Andrews’ Raiders
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The Results
• The hunt continues
• Execution of some of the raiders.
• Others never brought to trail
• Survivors received medals
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Compositional techniques used…
• “Haaaaa!”
• Chimes
• Diminished Chord
• Dynamics
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More techniques
• Accelerando and vocals
• Glissando
• “Loosing Steam”
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Related Information
• American Terrorists or Military importance?
• Memorial to Andrews’ Raiders
• Andrews in the movies
• The General final resting home
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Resources Cited• Joswick, D. & L. (2002). The Great Locomotive Chase: The Definitive Story of the Andrews
Raid – April 12, 1862. Retrieved March 27, 2007, from The Great Locomotive Chase Website: www.andrewsraid.com/
• No Author (2007). The First Medals of Honor. Retrieved March 27, 2007, from Home of Heroes Website: http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/history/history_first.html
• No Author (2007). The Great Locomotive Chase. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History Website:
www.southernmuseum.org/• No Author (2007). The Great Locomotive Chase. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from Carl
Vinson Institute of Government: Georgia Info Website: www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/
• Pittenger, W. (1887). The History of Andrews Railroad Raid into Georgia in 1862. New York : War Pub. Co.
• Smith, R.W. (2000). The Great Locomotive Chase [Score]. California: Belwin-Mills.