PROGRAM NOTES

As the title implies, all five songs in CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL are concerned with animals, some real and some fictitious. I composed the work for the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus, which I had conducted from 1975-1985. The songs are written for treble voices in two or three parts. I decided to set poems about animals because I am especially fond of, and concerned about them, and in these texts, drawn from many styles and periods, I discovered wonderfully imaginative and colourful writing, demonstrating wit, delicacy, horror and fun. I hope my music will help to illuminate these words.

Rattlesnake Skipping Song. This lively, rhythmic song gives very sensible advice to anyone who happens to catch a rattlesnake. The music builds steadily from start to finish, with the melody sung as a single line, then as two- and three-voice canons, and finally with voices together against a syncopated piano accompaniment.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER

Derek Holman was born in Cornwall, England and studied at the Royal Academy of Music and University of London. In 1954 he was _appointed Music Master at the Westminster Abbey Clioir School, and in 1956 Tutor and later Warden of the Royal School of Church Music. He emigrated with his family to Canada in -1965, and has taught at the University of Toronto since 1967. He is at present a Professor in the Composition Division of the Faculty of Music. From 1975-198~ Dr. ~olm~ was Musical Director of the Canadian Children s Opera Chorus. He is a prolific co?1poser, chiefly of choral music, and has received numerous commissions from organizations including the Toronto Symphony Orchestr~, the Toro?to Mendelssohn Choir, the Canadian Broadc~stmg Corporation and the International Choral Festival.

PERFORMANCE TIME

1 minute 35 seconds

EDUCATION THROUGH ARTISTRY

Choral Music Experience begins with distinctive choral repertoire. Each student is challenged by the opportunity to produce music with the singing voice, practice the musicianship required to meet the musical challenges, and perform the results of their efforts. This performance approach to music teaching and learning teaches students how to think-in-action, i.e., how to demonstrate their knowledge through choral singing.

Choral Music Experience engages students in the development of their singing voice, a skill central to the musical education of every student. Instruction must also focus on music reading as an important component of musicianship. Exercises and vocalizations can be taught through musical problem-solving opportunities authentically derived from the repertoire and its inherent challenges.

Choral Music Experience assessment takes place in the performance context. Teacher-conductors are encouraged to offer continuous feedback and reinforcement to give s,:Udents a constant sense of well-being and accomplishment. Assessment options include the use of audio and video taping, problem-solving exercises that are a part of the students natural engagement in musical activity, and a student performance portfolio of musical development - a biography of musical challenge and artistic accomplishment.

A complete and comprehensive choral per­formance curriculum for begirming choirs can be found in the music textbook WE WILL SING! published by Boosey & Hawkes (TXB-81).

CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL consists of the following five titles:

1. THE WONDERFUL DERBY RAM 2. UNICORN 3. THE BALLAD OF RED FOX 4. THE SNAIL 5. RATTLESNAKE SKIPPING SONG

Text by Dennis Lee*

Commissioned by the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus

as a tribute to Suzanne Bradshaw

RATTLESNAKE SKIPPING SONG No. 5 from "Creatures Great and Small"

for Three-Part Treble Voices & Piano

Music by Derek Holman

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© Copyright I 996 by Boosey & Hawkes, Inc.

Copyright for all countries. All rights reserved.

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