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Music Challenge Week 6
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The Kangaroos is a short piece of music, from a collection of pieces called The Carnival of the Animals, composed by Saint-Saens. To find out more about this collection of pieces, or the composer, visit the Saint-Saens web page.
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THE KANGAROOS
Instrumentation: Two pianos. The main figure in this piece is a pattern of “hopping” fifths (preceded by grace notes). This is followed by legato notes (smooth and connected) to suggest that the kangaroos have stopped hopping, and are looking around.
WHAT TO DO (there are 7 steps today):
1. Watch the video below and listen carefully to the music (close your eyes if it helps you to concentrate). Then answer the questions and follow the steps below the video.
WHAT TO DO (there are 7 steps today):
1. Watch the video below and listen carefully to the music (close your eyes if it helps you to concentrate). Then answer the questions and follow the steps below the video.
2. Is the music staccato (short, detached, separated sounds) or legato (the sounds are smoothly connected together)?
3. When the hopping fifths ascend (rise), can you hear the tempo gradually speed up (accelerando) and the dynamics get louder (crescendo)?
4. When the fifths descend (fall), can you hear the tempo gradually slow down (ritardando) and the dynamics get quieter (diminuendo or decrescendo)?
3. When the hopping fifths ascend (rise), can you hear the tempo gradually speed up (accelerando) and the dynamics get louder (crescendo)?
4. When the fifths descend (fall), can you hear the tempo gradually slow down (ritardando) and the dynamics get quieter (diminuendo or decrescendo)?
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5. Can you demonstrate this form (structure) of the music through movement, dance or poses? Play the music on the video again and move your body in response to the musical patterns you hear. See if you can speed up and slow down at the same time as the music. Here are two listening maps to help you to choreograph your movement ideas.
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6. Now it's time to perform your own version of The Kangaroos, using the same form (structure) as the original piece. You need to consider changes in tempo (speed), dynamics (volume) and pitch (rising and falling notes). For pitch changes, you could use a tuned instrument (if you have one). If you don't have a tuned instrument at home, you create one (e.g. varying amounts of water in glass bottles).
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If you would like to look at the original music for The Kangaroos, you can download it here:
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YOUR HOPPING MUSIC SHOULD:
RISE UP (pitch), SPEED UP (tempo) and GET LOUDER (dynamics)
...then...
FALL DOWN (pitch), SLOW DOWN (tempo) and GET QUIETER (dynamics)
The sounds should be STACCATO (short and detached)
This rising and falling pattern should be followed by slower, connected (legato) notes, to indicate that the kangaroos are no longer hopping. Then return to the first pattern again. Good luck and have fun little roos!
RISE UP (pitch), SPEED UP (tempo) and GET LOUDER (dynamics)
...then...
FALL DOWN (pitch), SLOW DOWN (tempo) and GET QUIETER (dynamics)
The sounds should be STACCATO (short and detached)
This rising and falling pattern should be followed by slower, connected (legato) notes, to indicate that the kangaroos are no longer hopping. Then return to the first pattern again. Good luck and have fun little roos!
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...and finally...
7. Video your own performance of The Kangaroos and upload your video to the music folder on Seesaw. |
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To watch a library of videos of aboriginal music (using the didgeridoo) plus the Australian National Anthem, and popular songs (Waltzing Matilda, and The Drovers Dream) visit the Australian Music page.
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