2017-03-21 - Beatles, Back to the Baroque · 3/21/2017 · Eleanor Rigby / Vivaldi Concerto in B...
Transcript of 2017-03-21 - Beatles, Back to the Baroque · 3/21/2017 · Eleanor Rigby / Vivaldi Concerto in B...
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: Sound Education 3/21/2017
Press photo of The Beatles during Magical Mystery TourPress photo of The Beatles during Magical Mystery TourPress photo of The Beatles during Magical Mystery TourPress photo of The Beatles during Magical Mystery Tour, 1967, Parlophone Music Sweden, 1967, Parlophone Music Sweden, 1967, Parlophone Music Sweden, 1967, Parlophone Music Sweden
Beatles, Back to the Baroque! 3/21/2017
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: Sound Education 3/21/2017
Lesson Outline TitleTitleTitleTitle Beatles, Back to the Baroque!
Time FrameTime FrameTime FrameTime Frame 35 minutes
StandardStandardStandardStandardssss M.CE.4, M.AP.1, M.HP.1, M.HP.2, M.HP.3, M.HP.6, M.CA.5
Objective(s)Objective(s)Objective(s)Objective(s) Students will listen for Baroque elements in the music of The
Beatles and compare them with their original models.
CrossCrossCrossCross----Curricular ConnectionsCurricular ConnectionsCurricular ConnectionsCurricular Connections
Math: Number lines, comparison
Social Studies: Historical eras, Timelines
Musical SelectionsMusical SelectionsMusical SelectionsMusical Selections The Beatles – “Penny Lane”, “Eleanor Rigby”, “In My Life”
J.S. Bach – Brandenburg Concert No. 2, Mvt 3
Vivaldi – Concerto in B Minor for Four Violins, RV 580
J.S. Bach – Partita, BWV 829
Lesson Content
Composer Info
Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach (YO-han suh-BAS-
chun BOKH) was a composer of the
Baroque Era. A prolific composer, he wrote
music for keyboard, instruments, and
chorus, most especially for the
Thomasschule in Leipzig, Germany.
Antonio VivaldiAntonio VivaldiAntonio VivaldiAntonio Vivaldi (vee-VAHL-dee) was also a
composer of the Baroque Era. Best known
for a series of violin concertos known as The
Four Seasons, many of his pieces were
written for a school for abandoned children
called Ospedale della Pietà. Some parts
were not inscribed with an instrument or
vocal part name, but the name of a child for
whom he wrote the part.
The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band
from Liverpool. Made up of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo
Starr, they became an international sensation. Known as the “Fab Four,” their longtime
Johann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian BachJohann Sebastian Bach (1(1(1(1685685685685----1750175017501750))))
Antonio VivaldiAntonio VivaldiAntonio VivaldiAntonio Vivaldi (1(1(1(1678678678678----1741)1741)1741)1741)
The BeatlesThe BeatlesThe BeatlesThe Beatles George MartinGeorge MartinGeorge MartinGeorge Martin (1926(1926(1926(1926----2016)2016)2016)2016)
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: Sound Education 3/21/2017
producer and composer/arranger, George Martin, was often referred to as the “Fifth
Beatle.” Paul and Ringo are still alive and performing and touring.
George MartinGeorge MartinGeorge MartinGeorge Martin, who worked with the Beatles throughout their long career, loved
classical music as a child and young adult, but mostly worked with radio and record
companies in light-hearted music and recording comedians. He met the Beatles in
1962 and helped mold them into a more refined band. Part of this had to do with his
arrangements and ideas drawing from classical music, especially Baroque music.
Lesson/Connections
Preparatory Exercise (5 min)
What (or when) is the Baroque era? The Baroque era in music runs about from 1600 to
1750. When in time is this? Make a timeline with from about 1400 to 2017. Mark the
Baroque era. Now, using a list of dates of important events (you can draw from your
own curriculum or other subjects), play a game of “Before, During, or AfterBefore, During, or AfterBefore, During, or AfterBefore, During, or After?”
One at a time, or as a class, read an event with its date (e.g., 1492 – Columbus sails to
the New World; or 1718 – New Orleans founded by Bienville). Ask if this would be
before, during, or after the Baroque period. For an extra challenge, read these withoutwithoutwithoutwithout
the dates and have students find the answers.
Now, let’s do the same for the years the Beatles were active (about 1957 to 1970). Do
the same game, but with events from the 20th century. You could even use events like
the year you or they were born!
Guided Instruction & Listening (25 min)
Penny Lane / Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Mvt 3
In the Baroque era, trumpets did not have valvesvalvesvalvesvalves (the
buttons used to change notes). Trumpet players had to
manipulate their lips carefully on very high notes on
instruments we call natural trumpetsnatural trumpetsnatural trumpetsnatural trumpets. From the late 1890s,
instrument makers crafted very small trumpets with valves to
make these Baroque pieces easier to play, calling them
piccolo piccolo piccolo piccolo (PICK-uh-low) trumpets. Paul McCartney heard one
perform a Bach Brandenburg Concerto, and asked Martin to
include a solo from one on “Penny Lane”.
Brandenburg No 2, Mvt 3 (Piccolo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIX_XVji9UA
Penny Lane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-
rB0pHI9fU&feature=youtu.be&t=1m9s
Piccolo TrPiccolo TrPiccolo TrPiccolo Trumpetumpetumpetumpet
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: Sound Education 3/21/2017
Eleanor Rigby / Vivaldi Concerto in B Minor, RV 580
Unlike most songs of its time, “Eleanor Rigby” had no drums or guitars; while two of
the Beatles sang, George Martin arranged a double string quartet (4 violins, 2 violas,
and 2 cellos) to carry the rhythm and accompaniment. This is very similar to Vivaldi’s
concertos that used string ensembles for rhythm, accompaniment and melody. You can
hear this in the first movement of Vivaldi’s Concerto in B Minor, RV 580.
Vivaldi RV 580: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC8lZ748lBE
Eleanor Rigby:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuS5NuXRb5Y
In My Life / Bach Partita BWV 829
John Lennon wrote most of “In My Life” before adding an
instrumental bridge in the middle. He specifically asked
George Martin for “something Baroque-sounding.” He wrote
a keyboard solo that sounded much like a partita (small
collection of pieces) by Bach, but he had trouble playing it
fast enough. They recorded him playing it at half speed and
then played it twice as fast. This made it sound almost like a harpsichord (even though
it is an electric piano). Compare the first movement from Bach’s Partita BWV 829 for
keyboard (as played on the harpsichord) with Martin’s “almost harpsichord”.
Bach Partita BWV 829: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ah8UbIe2w4
In My Life: https://youtu.be/-eCh3y5VROM?t=1m29s
Discussion (5 min)
Do the songs by the Beatles sound as orderly as the Baroque songs? Can you
anticipate where the music will go? This is one way to compare very unlike styles of
music.
In what ways do the Baroque instruments (such as the piccolo trumpet and
harpsichord) sound similar between the Baroque pieces and the Beatles pieces? In
what way do they sound different? Be specific, and use complete sentences.
The harpsichord solo in “In My Life” shows George Martin’s classical influence on the
Beatles. How would these pieces sound different without the Baroque parts?
Enrichment
Option 1
Before piccolo trumpets existed, playing Bach’s trumpet music was very taxing. Some
performers use similar instruments to Bach’s time that don’t have valves, but they have
HarpsichordHarpsichordHarpsichordHarpsichord
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: Sound Education 3/21/2017
a few holes drilled into the long, curved cone to
help make some notes sound more in tune or
clearer. Rather than call them natural trumpetsnatural trumpetsnatural trumpetsnatural trumpets
(like the original ones) or piccolopiccolopiccolopiccolo trumpets, they
are confusingly referred to as Baroque trumpetsBaroque trumpetsBaroque trumpetsBaroque trumpets
(even though they are modern versions of the original instruments).
Listen to this recording in comparison to the previous one. How is the sound different?
How does it look different? How is the physical way of playing the instrument different?
Brandenburg No 2, Mvt 3 (Baroque):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HSRIDtwsfM&feature=youtu.be&t=8m52s
Option 2
In a well-known anecdote, John Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono was playing Beethoven’s
Sonata No. 14 (also known as the “Moonlight Sonata”). He stopped her, and asked her
to play it backwards. He was inspired to write the song “Because” based loosely on
these chords.
Here is a very unusual recording of Moonlight Sonata, backwards! The second link is
“Because.”
Moonlight Sonata (backwards): https://youtu.be/rIHFLrjzgbA?t=3m35s
“Because”: https://youtu.be/df0WJw-u5mc?t=6s
Natural Natural Natural Natural TrumpetTrumpetTrumpetTrumpet