CHAPTER 5

Art Songs

An Art Song is a song usually written for one voice with piano accompaniment, popular in the Classical Tradition.

Songs Include:Caro Mio BenBrahms Lullaby

SECTION 1

Caro Mio BenLISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Listen to a version of this song with Luciano Pavarotti. Describe how he sings in terms of ornamentation, vibrato, dynamics and expression.

2. Cecilia Bartoli has also performed this piece. Compare her version to Luciano Pavarotti.

3. She is a mezzo soprano. What does this mean? Is her version in the same key as Pavarotti?

ANALYSIS

1. Explain the terms Larghetto, dolce, largamente, rit and piu.

2. What is the Key of the piece?

3. How would you describe the right hand of the piano accompaniment? (Hint: compare it to the melody)

4. There are a lot of dynamic markings. List all of these and explain each of them.

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Sheet Music for Caro Mio Ben is in the public domain here:

Art Song Central

LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Describe the tempo and metre of the piece. Why is it suitable for a lullaby?

2. Listen to Celine Dion perform Brahms Lullaby. Describe her performance. Listen for the instrumentation and timing in particular.

3. Chloe Agnew from Celtic Woman has also performed this piece. Listen to her performance. Are there any features of Irish Music present? How does her performance differ from Celine Dion?

4. Listen to a choir perform this piece on youtube. Which of the three performances do you prefer? Justify your answer musically.

SECTION 2

Brahms Lullaby

ANALYSIS

1. Explain the term “Delicatamente mosso”

2. What is the time signature? What famous dance has the same time signature?

3. Explain Led, the markings and simile under the first three bars.

4. Describe the dynamics of the piece?

5. What is the range of the piece?

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Sheet Music for Brahms Lullaby in the public domain here:

International Music Score Project

CHAPTER 6

Operas, Operettas, Oratorios & Stage Musicals

This is again a very broad category cover-ing music associated with the stage.

Songs Include:Voi Che SapeteI am so ProudLaudate Dominum

LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Voi Che Sapete is from an Opera. What is an Opera? Write a profile on the opera Voi Che Sapete is from.

2. Find the translation for the lyrics. Explain what the song is about. Does it progress the storyline?

3. Listen to Maria Ewing sing this song. Describe what you see and hear.

SECTION 1

Voi Che Sapete

ANALYSIS

1. This is an orchestral score. Describe the strings part. (Hint: look at the rhythm and notes that are played).

2. What bar does the melody begin at? What instruments play in the introduction? What do they play?

3. Describe what the woodwind and brass play at C.

4. What does the horn play at bar 76?

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Sheet Music for Voi Che Sapete is in the public domain here:

International Music Score Library

LISTENING EXERCISES

1. What instruments play with the opening and Pooh Bah? How are they played?

2. What instrument joins in for KoKo’s section?

3. How is the accompaniment played for Pish Tush’s section?

4. What happens after all three characters have sang their solo sections?

5. The second half of the song is quite different. Describe the changes.

6. Listen to I am so Proud from The Hot Mikado. How does the song start in comparison to the original? Does it continue in this style? What changes can you hear?

SECTION 2

I am so Proud

ANALYSIS

1. Name each of the instruments listed (page 160)

2. Explain each of the terms: Allegro non troppo vivace, pizz, arco, sf, un poco piu vivo, tr

3. What key does the piece start in? Name all keys in the piece.

4. Why does the key of some of the instruments look different to the rest? Explain your answer.

5. Explain all time signatures.

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Sheet Music for I am so Proud is in the public domain here:

International Music Score Library

LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Listen to Catherine Jenkins sing this. Name all the instruments you hear in the introduction.

2. What type of voice does she have?

3. What type of time signature does the piece have, compound or simple?

4. When does the choir enter? Do they sing for the whole piece? Is there anything in the music which gives them a signal?

5. Does the soloist sing for the whole piece?

6. How does the piece end?

7. Is ornamentation used in the performance?

8. What does the piece mean? Find a translation.

SECTION 3

Laudate Dominum

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Sheet Music for Laudate Dominum is in the public domain here:International Music Score Library

ANALYSIS

1. Explain: assai piano, a mezzo voce, Andante ma un poco sostenuto

2. Name all of the instruments in the score.

3. What instrument plays the melody in the introduction?

4. Describe what violin 2 plays throughout the piece.

5. What is the time signature and key signature?

ANALYSIS

1. Analyse the opening of the piece from bars 1-8. What do you notice?

2. Now look at bars 9-16 the piano part. What do you notice?

3. Which of the three vocal lines is busiest bars 25-30?

4. What are the intervals between the voices in bar 56?

5. Describe the clap from bar 41

SECTION 4

Seasons of LoveLISTENING & RESEARCH

1. This song is from a Musical. Research and describe what a musical is.

2. Compare a musical with an Opera

3. What instrument plays the opening?

4. How does the song start? Is there harmony?

5. Describe the tempo.

6. Describe the harmony during the chorus. Is it always consistent?

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The Sheet Music for this song is not in the public domain and is still licensed. It is available via several sources, here is one:

Musicnotes.com

CHAPTER 7

Church Music & Carols

Church Music covers the wide range of music written for worship as well as Car-ols written for Christmas.

Songs Include:Amazing GraceAve Maria (Schubert)The Wexford CarolSilent Night

LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Write a brief history of the song.

2. Listen to the Soweto Gospel Choir sing this on youtube. Describe their performance including references to vocals, instruments and rhythm/tempo as well as any features of Gospel Music.

Listen to Celtic Woman sing this song.

3. What instrument plays at the start?

4. What instruments do you hear just before the vocals?

5. How is the opening verse sung? And the second?

6. What instrument leads into the third verse? What happens vocally?

SECTION 1

Amazing Grace

ANALYSIS

1. What time signature does the piece have?

2. Are any phrases the same?

3. What key is the piece in?

4. Mark in the intervals between the notes on the left hand

5. Explain the dynamic markings and list them.

6. Describe each of the rhythms in bar fifteen.

7. Why is there only one beat in the bar at the start? What is this called?

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Sheet Music for Amazing Grace is in the public domain here:

8notes

SECTION 2

Ave Maria LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Listen to a version of the piece. Describe the opening accompaniment.

2. Listen to Pavarotti sing it. Describe the performance, include vocals, dynamics, ornamentation and instrumentation.

3. What language is it?

4. Research the song, what language was it written in?

ANALYSIS

1. The rhythms in the piece are unusual. Explain all rhythm types.

2. What key is the piece in?

3. Is there ornamentation marked on the score? Explain each of the markings.

4. How does the piece end? What is the symbol above the final note?

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Sheet Music for Ave Maria is in the public domain here:

International Music Score Library

LISTENING EXERCISES

Listen to the Palestrina Choir perform the song.

1. How does the song start?

2.What do you hear in the second verse? Is it the same as the first verse?

3.What happens after the first two minutes?

Now listen to Julie Andrews perform the same song.

1. How does this version start? Does it sound similar to the previous piece?

2.What is the most obvious difference between the two performances?

3.Which arrangement do you prefer? Explain.

SECTION 3

The Wexford Carol

LISTENING EXERCISES

1. In bar 7 what feature of Irish music is present?

2.Which voice carries the melody? Try to identify this just by reading the music.

3. What is the range of the piece?

4. What is the widest leap in the melody?

5. Is there ornamentation marked in the music?

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An example of the Sheet Music for Wexford Carol is in the pub-lic domain here:

Donald Williams Arrangement

SECTION 4

Silent NightLISTENING & RESEARCH

Listen to Andre Rieu perform the piece.

1. What is the soloist? What other instrument can you hear?

2. When do the choir enter? Does the soloist continue?

3. Research the history of the piece. Write a short summary of what you find.

ANALYSIS

1. Name the key of this version. What is the time signature?

2. Mark in the intervals between the Soprano/Alto parts. What do you notice?

3. What are the most common rhythm patterns?

4. What cadence does the piece end on?

5. Examine the piece for form. Are there bars that are the same? Are the harmonies the same in these repeats?

6. What is the range of the tenor line?

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Sheet Music for Silent Night is in the public domain here:

International Music Score Library

CHAPTER 8

2 Part Songs, Canons & Ostinati2 part songs are songs including two voices singing independent melodies. Canons include songs that have imita-tions of the melody included.Ostinati are short sections repeated.

Songs Include:Row Row Row Your BoatSummer is Icumen inFalling Slowly

LISTENING

1. Practise singing the piece. Is it major or minor?

2. This song is a round. By performing the piece within a group, mark the points were you can start the round on the music. Listen carefully to each other and maintain your line.

3. This is also a children's nursery rhyme. Listen to the music and describe why you think it would work as a children's piece.

SECTION 1

Row Row Row Your Boat

ANALYSIS

1. Transcribe the music into your manuscript. Write the notes underneath.

2.Circle the primary notes in each bar (recall which beats are strongest in this key).

3.What do you notice about the primary notes of the piece? How would this help the round?

4.What key is this in? What relationship does the key have to the primary notes?

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LISTENING & RESEARCH

1. Learn the “sing cuckoo” section. Your teacher will play both sections for you until you can sing it back. Practise singing it in two parts.

2. Listen to the Hastings Choir. How have they attempted to recreate the original sound of the piece?

3. The song was performed at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Listen to the version played at the games. Describe how the piece progresses. What can you hear at the beginning? What happens next? How is the “Summer is Icumen in” section sung? What happens at the end?

4. Write a brief history of the piece using the internet to help you.

SECTION 2

Summer is Icumen InANALYSIS

1. This song uses both Treble and Bass Clef. What is the range of the piece?

2. What do you think the X marks are on the score?

3. What does ronde mean?

4. Examine bars 1-24. Mark in the bars that are the same/similar. Do you notice any pattern?

5. What does the final symbol on the stave mean?

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Sheet Music for Summer is Icumen In is in the public domain here:

International Music Score Library