2. Very Special Promenades CSO Docent Lecture
April 7, 2014
Judy Bundra, Ph.D.
DePaul University School of Music

3. Adventures with Aladdin

4. Adventures with Aladdin
Who is Aladdin?

5. Adventures with Aladdin
Tale of Arabian Nights, 1001 Nights
Stories collected from
throughout Asia and the Middle
East, dating back to the 9th C.
Familiar stories such as
- “Aladdin’s Wonderful Lamp”
- “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”
- “The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor”

6. Music for the Program Khachaturian, “Lezginka” from Gayane
Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade, themes
Sibelius, Symphony No. 5, Mvt. 3
Mussorgsky, Night on Bald Mountain
Stravinsky, Firebird Suite
Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade, 4th Mvt.
Tchaikovsky, Coronation March

7. Aram Khachaturian Born 1903, Died 1978 Armenian/Russian
One of 3 “titans” of Russian Music
with Prokofiev and Shostakovich
Gayane, Ballet set in Armenia
Premiered in 1942

8. Aram Khachaturian Aram Khachaturian
Lezginka is a folk dance:
What do you hear? Symphony Orchestra, Loud, Fast tempos, Repeating rhythm patterns, Duple, Majestic Dramatic Feelings

9. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Born Died 1908
“The Six” with other Russian composers, Mussorgsky, Balakirev, Glinka, Cui, Borodin
Created music which was distinctly Russian
Incorporated “oriental” sound in compositions

10. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheherazade
- Symphonic Poem in 4 movements
- Based upon the Tales of the
Arabian Nights

11. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Opens with “Sultan” theme
Who performs the theme? How does it make you feel?
Then Scheherazade, his wife

12. Jean Sibelius Born 1865, Died 1957 Finnish composer
Best known for his symphonic
works
Aspiring violinist, law student
Studied music throughout Europe

13. Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5, Mvt. 3 Premiered in 1915
What do you hear?
Strings, fast, short notes, duple
Brass, leaps, show melodic contour

14. Modest Mussorgsky 1839-1881 One of “The Six” Music was inspired
by Russian history,
Russian folklore
Night on Bald Mountain
A “musical picture” based upon witches’ sabbath
Premiered 1886

15. Modest Mussorgsky
What instruments do you hear?

16. Modest Mussorgsky What do you hear?
How does the melody move? Up? Down? Skips? Steps
Show us with your hands.
Is the music loud or soft? Both?
Is the music fast or slow? Both?
How does the music make you feel?
Suspenseful, scary, excited.

17. Igor Stravinsky Lived from 1882 to 1971
One of the most influential composers of the 20th C., born in Russia, and lived in Switzerland, France, US
Studied with Rimsky-Korsakov in St. Petersburg

18. Igor Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Commissioned by Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe,
Premiered in Paris, 1910
Success which led to further collaborations, Petrushka and Rite of Spring.

19. Igor Stravinsky What do you hear? “Ronde des Princesses”
- Quiet, subdued, woodwinds, strings., horn,
“Danse Infernale”
- How does the music change?
Raise your hand when you
hear this instrument:
Is the music
Fast? Slow? Loud? Soft? Smooth? Jagged?
Concert ending
How is this different?
Majestic, stately

20. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheherazade, Mvt. 4 What does this sound like to you? Why? A chase What solo instruments do you hear?
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

21. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Born 1840 in Russia
Government worker; studied
at St. Petersburg; taught at the
Moscow Conservatory
A patron, von Meck,
sponsored him for 13 years
Died in 1893, at 53

22. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Coronation March
Commissioned by the city of Moscow for the coronation of Tsar Alexander III, 1883.
Included the anthem “God Save the Tsar”
Why does it sound like a march?
Strong, steady beat
Have students march in place to the music.

23. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
God Save the Tsar
Russian National Anthem,
God save the noble Tsar! Long may he live, in pow’r, In happiness, In peace to reign! Dread of his enemies, Faith’s sure defender, God save the Tsar!

24. Teaching Tips Know your materials Look at students
Move around the room
Give students specific activities to do
Reward students when successful
Be specific with questions and directions
Talk less, do more