Line Rider with Liszt

Hungarian Rhapsody

Franz Liszt was born in Austria in October of 1811.  He lived and composed music during a time known as the Romantic Era.  Liszt was a composer, a virtuoso pianist, conductor, music teacher (private students), arranger and an organist. 

He was known to have a flashy style when performing and Liszt is responsible for piano performers performing from a profile view, rather than face on!  He wrote so much music and a lot of his music were arrangements of other composers music.

His Hungarian Rhapsody #2 is one of his very famous compositions.  A Rhapsody is a one-movement work and is free-flowing in structure, with a range of contrasted moods. 

As you listen to and watch Line Rider, listen for:  (I love the ending! watch what happens at the end)

1. variations in tempo

2. changes in dynamics

3. where the silences are

4. how does the picture and the little riding figure match the music?

5. how does the picture show what the music is doing?

6. how do you feel when hearing the music?

7. what moods do you notice in the music?

Link to Hungarian Rhapsody

Track Mania - Don't Miss This!

Ride of the Valkyries 

Composed by Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner is a German composer.  He was born in Germany in the month of May!  He composed operas that were way too long and complicated.  When Wagner was a child he did not show much musical talent and in fact, his music teacher said, "he would torture the piano in a most abominable fashion".  But, by the age of 16 he was writing musical compositions.  People say he was extremely confident in his abilities.

Wagner would use something called: "leitmotifs" in his music.  A 'Leitmotif' is a recurring theme that is associated with a particular person, idea, or situation.  Like in Peter and the Wolf how there is an instrument and a theme representing each character.  This use of the leitmotif later influenced modern film scores (music).

The Ride of the Valkyries is music from one of Wagner's operas and is one of his best-known pieces.

Enjoy listening to and watching the graphics!  Listen for how the graphics and the music work together.  What is happening in the music that is shown in the picture?  What do you hear and see?!

Link to Music

Interactive Listening Games

Listening

Follow the Link below to musicplayonline and find the listening games.  Numbers 7-12, 14 are some of the listening games that we have used in class.  Remember the melting snowman? Or the bubble popping? Or the frog?   You can try them out at home!

Link to Games

Listening is such an important part of the music curriculum.  We need to be able to distinguish sounds and make sense of them.  Is the sound high or low? Is it fast or slow?  How is it articulated? smooth, or staccato? Is it moving up or moving down, or is it the same? 

This is a skill that can use daily practice!

Roller Coaster Ride

Roller Coaster Ride with the 1812 Overture

This music was composed by Peter Tchaikovsky, a. Russian composer.  The 1812 Overture became the theme music for "The Lone Ranger" in radio, television and film.   Now let's back up a bit --  What is an overture? It is an instrumental introduction to a ballet, opera, or and oratorio in the 17th century.  Later on, Overtures existed on their own.

In this music, listen for the ending when the giant arches appear, the music has a strong accent (the music is louder on an accent) at each of the arches.  Can you discover other areas where something is happening in the music and something is also happening on the screen?  I can think of quite a few, but I would like to see if you find some!

Link to Music 

Marbles, Magnets and Music

You won't want to miss this!

Music is: Waltz of the Flowers by Tchaikovsky

This is design thinking, science and music blended into a stunning, moving piece of art!  Simply enjoy the creativity of the piece and enjoy the long weekend.

Maybe it will give you ideas to create your own ? If so, please share!

Link to Music

Star Wars and Harry Potter Themes with Line Rider

John Williams - Star Wars Theme and Harry Potter Theme

John Williams was born in New York in 1932.  He is an American composer who composed music for more than a hundred films.  Now that's a lot!  His father was a musician and he grew up surrounded by music and learning music.  Later, he studied music on his own and worked as a musician in different places.  John Williams became famous for composing the music for the Star Wars movies.  If you have ever seen a Star Wars movie you have heard his music.

Here is something someone thought of to visually show the music while it's playing, it is called, "Line Rider", it is a kind of visual map to go along with the music.  This took four months to create to sync with the music perfectly.  That's a long time to work on a project that lasts for about 3 to 4 minutes long.  But I think the end result is worthwhile.  

Enjoy listening to and watching Line Rider play the Star Wars theme by John Williams.

Link to Line Rider Star Wars Theme


John Williams -- Theme to Harry Potter 

Here is another Line Rider map.  This theme was also composed by John Williams and I know you will enjoy listening to and watching this as well.

Link to Line Rider -- Harry Potter Theme

Oh The Places You Will Go - Dr. Suess Rap

JZ - rap Dr. Suess, "Oh the Places You'll Go"

Today, relax and enjoy another Dr. Suess story read in rap form.  When done, you can draw a picture of a place you would like to go.  If you like, you could add words to describe your place.

Think about:
1. What does it look like?
2. Where is it? Could it even be in space?! Yes!
3. Who will you go with?
4. What does it smell like?
5. What foods might you eat!
6. What is the weather like?
7.What would you wear?

link to story