Galop from “The Comedians Suite” · Kabalevsky lived in a difficult time and place for a...
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Galop from “The Comedians Suite” DMITRI KABALEVSKY BORN: DECEMBER 30, 1904 DIED: FEBRUARY 14, 1987 Dmitri Kabalevsky was born in St. Petersburg, which was then the capital of Russia. He started playing the piano by ear when he was six. In 1918, after the Russian Revolution, the family moved to Moscow, where Dmitri finally started studying music — including composition. Kabalevsky lived in a difficult time and place for a composer. In the Soviet Union, the government told artists — painters, writers, composers, you name it — exactly what they were expected to create, and how it should look or sound. Kabalevsky managed to make the authorities happy as he continued to compose. Kabalevsky wrote a lot of piano music, including pieces for children. Other Kabalevsky compositions include works for children’s chorus and a set of songs for solo voice based on some wonderful Russian translations of Mother Goose rhymes. His Comedians Suite is a collection of the music he wrote for a play at the Central Children’s Theatre in Moscow called The Inventor and the Comedians . The comedians in this play were a troupe of actors who went from town to town setting up their show, trying to attract a crowd, just as the circus does. Of course, Kabalevsky also wrote plenty of adult pieces, including symphonies, concertos, and music for theater. Classics for Kids © broadcasts are sponsored in part by The Kroger Co. Picture This 1. Across Your crossword clues are below. Name the instrument that the musician is playing. Do you know how to play any of these instruments? E-mail us a picture of you and your instrument to [email protected]. 3. Across 5. Across 6. Across 2. Down 4. Down
Transcript of Galop from “The Comedians Suite” · Kabalevsky lived in a difficult time and place for a...
Galop from “The Comedians Suite”DMITRI KABALEVSKY
BORN: DECEMBER 30, 1904DIED: FEBRUARY 14, 1987
Dmitri Kabalevsky was born inSt. Petersburg, which was then thecapital of Russia. He startedplaying the piano by ear when hewas six. In 1918, after the RussianRevolution, the family moved toMoscow, where Dmitri finallystarted studying music —including composition.
Kabalevsky lived in a difficulttime and place for a composer. Inthe Soviet Union, the governmenttold artists — painters, writers,composers, you name it —exactly what they were expectedto create, and how it should lookor sound. Kabalevsky managed tomake the authorities happy as hecontinued to compose.
Kabalevsky wrote a lot of pianomusic, including pieces for
children. Other Kabalevskycompositions include worksfor children’s chorus and a setof songs for solo voice basedon some wonderful Russiantranslations of Mother Gooserhymes. His Comedians Suiteis a collection of the music hewrote for a play at the CentralChildren’s Theatre in Moscowcalled The Inventor and theComedians. The comedians inthis play were a troupe ofactors who went from town totown setting up their show,trying to attract a crowd, just asthe circus does.
Of course, Kabalevsky alsowrote plenty of adult pieces,including symphonies,concertos, and music fortheater.
Classics for Kids© broadcastsare sponsored in part by The Kroger Co.
Picture This
1. Across
Your crossword clues are below. Name the instrument that themusician is playing. Do you know how to play any of theseinstruments? E-mail us a picture of you and your instrument [email protected].
3. Across
5. Across
6. Across
2. Down
4. Down
WGUC sincerely thanksThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater FoundationThe Charles H. Dater Foundation
for its sustaining support since theinception of
Classics for Kids®.“Galop” Listening Map
Follow the listening map below. Each letter represents a theme in the music.
Can you find your way through the map without falling down the ladder? (Or getting lost.)
Xylophone begins
Introduction
Bass
Drum
XylophoneTransitionOnly
Xylophone
Only
Strings
3 Steps
slow
4 steps
fast
Bass
DrumXylophoneEveryone!
Why not create your own original pieceof art while listening to Kabalevsky’s “Galop.”
Draw a picture, or write your own story,if you wish, on blank 8 1/2" x 11" paper.Send us your art and we may post it on ourClassics for Kids website for youto share with others.
Our address is:Classics for Kidsc/o WGUC1223 Central ParkwayCincinnati, OH 45214
What Is A Galop?What Is A Galop?What Is A Galop?What Is A Galop?What Is A Galop?
A galop is a fast, lively ballroom dance in 2/4 time—which means you count 1, 2, 1, 2 while you are dancing.It was one of the most popular dances in the early19th century, perhaps because it was so easy to do.Partners held each other, as they did while waltzing;faced the line of dancers and used springing steps togo quickly down the room. The music usually only lasted2 to 3 minutes because the galop was tiring. The dancestarted in Germany and then spread to Vienna, Franceand England. Can you guess the origin of its name? Thegalop reminded dancers of the galloping movement ofhorses.
