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Post by Brendan Anderson on Apr 30, 2005 18:54:24 GMT -8
Hey music fans! I'm working on an assigment right now that I could use input on. I am to design an orchestra concert program for kids in kindergarten through 8th grade that is designed to teach them about the different instrument families of the orchestra. The program can only be 45 minutes long or the kids will miss their bus. The other stipulation is that it has to be mostly all from the classical music world as opposed to film music (hence this thread not being in General Discussion ), but I have slipped in a few film music things here and there to keep the kids' attention. You can find the program here: Education Concert Program Comments? And Armin, don't tell me you hate that Tchiakovsky Symphony 5 french horn melody. -Brendan
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Post by Armin on Apr 30, 2005 22:25:03 GMT -8
Now that was obvious that I would reply, wasn't it? Generally speaking I have to say well done, you got a nice list of excerpts there. The funny thing is we've done education concerts in abundance (fucking pops concerts... : , with introductions to the instruments, so I actually know a few pieces that could be played. Our concert master usually plays "Meditations from Thais", but "Schindler's List" also works quite well. I think you are generally too heavy on Russian music and Tchaikowsky, so you might want to re-consider. I don't know about the viola, and really can't remember what they had to play in Beethoven 7, but it must be fun. Cello Saint-Saens is always good. Our cello used to play Dvorak 9, end of the 2nd movement... boring... How about a total contrast in style between the strings, and let the cello play Brahms? Second piano concerto 2nd movement has a great solo. Double bass - perfect. The usual. String section - the Serenade is wonderful and the Polka fun. Flute - excellent. Clarinet - always fun. Oboe - I hope you don't have a duck... but the choice is good. Bassoon - obvious. Contra - nice touch! Woodwind section - you might ahve to explain why there are 3 horns, a cello and a bass. But the piece is great. Alternatively you could use Strauss' Serenade for winds. It also has 4 horns, but no strings. It's not so catchy though. Harry Potter again... the kids love it. Horn - WHY DOES EVERYBODY ALWAYS HAVE TO PLAY THIS PIECE OF CRAP???. No, it's actually a very beautiful solo, but why couldn't you come up with something a bit more interesting? For a flashy bit I recommend Wagner's short Siegfried call (15 seconds). As a melodic line do Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream (with orchestra, it's amazing). I don't know the trumpet excerpt. How about the beginnning of Arutunian's concerto? Trombone and Copland always fit. Tuba - agreed. Full brass - ok. Percussion is nice. I recommend Porgy & Bess for the xylophone. And perhaps Enigma Variations for timpani. Full orchestra - play some not Russian piece!
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Post by Jangles on May 1, 2005 20:10:38 GMT -8
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Post by Brendan Anderson on May 2, 2005 17:16:27 GMT -8
Generally speaking I have to say well done, you got a nice list of excerpts there. The funny thing is we've done education concerts in abundance (f***ing pops concerts... : , with introductions to the instruments, so I actually know a few pieces that could be played. I like some of your suggestions...I seriously considered Meditations from Thais for the violin, but seeing as how it's the very first instrument demonstration I wanted something faster and more exciting so the kids wouldn't immediately begin making spit-wads out of their programs. As for the horn, the Mendelssohn is a good suggestion...I may make that change, actually, as I do end up having a kind of Tchiakovsky-heavy program and I'm not THAT big a fan of his anyway. Tromboja/Jangles/Joey - yes, yes, bass trombone. But you just know the kids would hear some of those pedal-tones and immediately think it sounded like farting. I don't know if I want that kind of disturbance in the concert hall. I present the program tomorrow to the committee...I'll report back later this week.... -Brendan
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Post by Armin on May 2, 2005 22:31:36 GMT -8
Good luck!
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