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Tuesday, November 12, 2013

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2013

QUOTE:
"Music is the universal language of mankind."
AUTHOR: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
MEANING OF THE QUOTE:
“Music is a form of communication that everyone can understand.”











COMPOSER
TCHAIKOVSKY


"Nutcracker Suite"

Overture Miniature
Conducted by Micha Haran

"Nutcracker"
Complete

"Nutcracker Ballet"
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/arts/dance/george-balanchines-the-nutcracker-at-lincoln-center.html?_r=0

At the Mariinsky (Kirov) Theater
File:Mariinsky Curtain.JPG
Design for the Imperial-era curtain of the Mariinsky Theatre that existed prior to 1914.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariinsky_Theatre



"Nutcracker" Russian Dance: Rock Guitar Metal Version

Brian Setzer Orchestra performing "Nutcracker Suite" live


HERE IS A VERSION OF THE NUTCRACKER SUITE 
WITH WORDS FOR CHILDREN BY CAPTAIN KANGAROO

Term: What is a SUITE?
As in "The Nutcracker," composers, in the late 19th century, who had written operas or ballets which incorporated many long popular dance movements
often made arrangements of these in shortened versions for orchestra 
so they could be played at concerts.

NEW INSTRUMENT: CELESTA
Celesta is an instrument which has a bell like sound used in the "Nutcracker"
http://www.vsl.co.at/en/70/3196/3204/3207/5748.vsl


The celesta (pronounced /sɨˈlɛstə/) or celeste (pronounced /sɨˈlɛst/) is a struck idiophone 
operated by a keyboard. Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano (four- or five-octave) 
or of a large wooden music box (three-octave). The keys are connected to hammers which 
strike a graduated set of metal (usually steel) plates suspended over wooden resonators. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celesta 



The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (German: Nussknacker und Mausekönig) 
is a story written in 1816 by ETA Hoffmann


in which young Marie Stahlbaum's favorite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker
comes alive and, after defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, 
whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls.





NUTCRACKER:
TREPAK
Sometimes referred to as The Russian Dance, it is the official National Folk Dance of Russia.
This dance comes from the Ukraine and was originally performed by the Cossacks, soldiers who were expert cavalrymen.

http://damascenegallery.com/shop/fine-art-prints/dancing-cossacks/

The Trepak, performed by men only, is a brisk dance that is done in 2/4 time with the danced steps starting at a slow tempo that is increased throughout the performance. Dancers begin the dance in a line, standing side by side with their arms crossed over their chests. The dancers crouch into a love squatting position. Next, they begin a series of kicks, extending first one leg and then the other straight out in front their body while remaining in the squat position. The kicks are performed to the beat of the music and speed up as the music's tempo increases. As the dancers perform these kicks they may move into a circle that rotates counterclockwise of they may stay in a line, but move to the sides to put more distance between each dancer. To perform the next move, the dancers lunge into a squat position and spring as high into the air as possible. While in the air the dancers perform a split and extend their legs as far on each side as possible, before bringing their legs back together and landing in the squatting position.


Nutcracker: Trépak 
Tennis Ball Activity and Video

Submitted by Beth Jahn, Granite Falls, Minnesota
Idea posted January 6, 2012
http://www.musick8.com/html/ideadisplay.php?ibid=1959&ideasubject=&idtextsearch=&submittedby=&group1=

I've developed a tennis ball routine for Trépak that my 4th and 5th graders are really enjoying.

DIRECTIONS:

Circle Formation

"A" SECTION
Bounce ball on accented notes 
 Toss the ball gently between hands for the other part

"A" SECTION (Repeat)
"B" SECTION
Pass the ball behind you 
Grab the ball with your other hand 
Bring the ball in front 
Grab the ball with your other hand

INTERLUDE
Bounce 
the ball on the accented parts (five bounces).

"A" SECTION (Repeat)

CODA

Each student turns on the strong notes all the way around the circle and 
tosses the ball gently in the air on the last note.

 If you have more than 24 kids in your class, this may be difficult, 
and you may need two kids turning at the same time.

We just did this activity in 4th grade. 
GRANADA ADV. STRINGS
1.  BELIEVE
2.  MISTER SANTA

INTRO. TO INSTRUMENT
GRANADA
1.  THEORY: NOTE READING BY STEP
a.  Worked on pages 4-6

HILLVIEW
1.  VIOLIN BOW
a.  Tighten/loosen
b.  Applying Rosin

GRANADA BEG. STRINGS
1.  BOW LEADERS
a.  Chose bow leaders for the concert
2.  ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH
3.  GREENSLEEVES

HILLVIEW ORCHESTRA
1.  SECTIONALS
a.  Strings: Tumbalalaika
b.  Flutes:  Greensleeves
c.  Rest:  Keyboards
2.  MISTER SANTA