1. Melody Matters

2. The Elizabeth Brown Dee Fund for Music in the Schools
The Utah Symphony
Celebrate Utah Symphony’s 75th anniversary with us this year.
We look forward to having you in the
audience for our concert, made possible
by the financial support of many donors,
including generous funding from the
Professional Outreach Programs
in the Schools, appropriated by the
Utah State Legislature with the
Utah State Board of Education.
The Elizabeth Brown Dee
Fund for Music in the Schools

3. Utah Symphony Melody Matters
This slide show has composer biographies with additional background for the full orchestra elementary school concerts for the year titled Melody Matters.
There is a separate Concert Preparation slide show to prepare your students to attend the concerts.
There is also a separate slide show with audio and video files of the music for this concert. Feel free to play this music throughout the school year.

4. John Williams (1932 - ) Harry’s Wondrous World
American composer John Williams lived in New York City and Los Angeles when he was growing up. He studied music in college in both those cities.
He has written music for many movies, and you’ve probably seen a lot of them. His music in movies is very popular and he has won numerous Academy Awards, Grammys, and Golden Globe awards.

5. John Williams (1932 - ) Harry’s Wondrous World
The theme music of the 2002 Winter Olympics, held in Salt Lake City was written by John Williams. Its title is “Call of the Champions.”
This music can still be heard at the Olympic Legacy fountain at the Gateway.

6. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony No. 9: IV
Ludwig van Beethoven ( ) Symphony No. 9: IV. Ode to Joy Symphony No. 6: IV. Storm
Beethoven was born in Germany.
He had a pretty hard childhood. His father, who was his first piano teacher, was often cruel.
But Beethoven loved music so much, he was able to find peace and comfort in playing music as he followed his dream.
At 14, he was able to earn money as an organist to help support his family.
By the time he was 17, he was supporting his entire family.

7. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony No. 9: IV
Ludwig van Beethoven ( ) Symphony No. 9: IV. Ode to Joy Symphony No. 6: IV. Storm
When Beethoven was 22 he moved to Vienna, Austria. It was a center for music. People in Vienna liked the music that Beethoven composed and they enjoyed hearing him play in concerts.
Beethoven was very aware of his incredible musical genius and often wished for more financial support. He desperately wanted to be able to answer only to the demands and joys of music.

8. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony No. 9: IV
Ludwig van Beethoven ( ) Symphony No. 9: IV. Ode to Joy Symphony No. 6: IV. Storm
Beethoven began to have problems with his hearing when he was in his mid-20s. By the time he was in his early 30s he was painfully aware of his hearing loss. By his mid-40s he was completely deaf.
He used a variety of hearing aids, some of which looked like those in this picture.
Imagine being a composer who couldn’t hear your own music! How would that make you feel?

9. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony No. 9: IV
Ludwig van Beethoven ( ) Symphony No. 9: IV. Ode to Joy Symphony No. 6: IV. Storm
Beethoven wasn’t an easy person to be around. His determination to serve his art often got in the way of friendships.
His deafness made relationships even harder.
It is said that over 10,000 people attended Beethoven’s funeral and his music lives on as his great legacy.

10. Georges Bizet (1838-1875) Farandole
Georges Bizet was born in Paris.
He came from a musical family and got his first music lessons at home.
When he was just 10 years old, he went to the Paris Conservatoire – a famous music college in France.

11. Georges Bizet (1838-1875) Farandole
When he was 19, he won a very special prize that paid him to study music and compose for three years in Italy.
Bizet was especially well known for the operas he wrote.
The Farandole was written with other music to be performed during a play.

12. Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Variations on a Shaker Melody
Aaron Copland was born and grew up in New York City.
He had good music teachers there and got to hear lots of concerts.
When he was 21, he went to Paris to study composition.
When he returned to America at 24, he knew that he wanted to create music that sounded “American.”
Copland worked to simplify his music and also wrote music for movies and ballets.

13. Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Variations on a Shaker Melody
Many Americans feel that Copland did create music that sounded uniquely American.
In addition to composing music, Copland also conducted, performed, and especially loved to teach.
Copland received many honors and awards in his lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

14. Gabriela Lena Frank (1972 - ) Mestizo Waltz
Gabriela Lena Frank is an American composer who was trained as a pianist and composer.
Her heritage has always been an important part of her identity. Her mother’s Peruvian heritage in particular has influenced her music studies and composition.

15. Gabriela Lena Frank (1972 - ) Mestizo Waltz
Frank has traveled extensively in South America, learning about the cultures and their folklore.
Her compositions bring together the music of these cultures with her traditional western classical music training.
Frank was recently the composer in residence with the Detroit Symphony.

16. Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Benjamin Britten began composing music when he was 5 years old! But he didn’t get his first composition lessons until he was 14.
He was also very good at math as a young student.
Once his musical career was underway, he was successful as a composer, conductor and pianist.

17. Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Britten wrote operas and music for many different instrument combinations as well as scores for film, radio and theater.
He also enjoyed writing music for children and amateur musicians.

18. Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Nutcracker Act II. Pas de Deux
Tchaikovsky began piano lessons when he was five. His great talents were noticed early.
He began his adult career as a clerk at the Ministry of Justice, but soon decided to follow his musical dreams and entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music in Russia.
He did well in school and got a job teaching music at the Conservatory. He also worked as a composer and music critic.

19. Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Nutcracker Act II. Pas de Deux
The Nutcracker ballet was first performed in As popular as the ballet is today, you might be surprised to learn that it wasn’t a success when it was first presented.
Other famous Tchaikovsky ballets are The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.
It’s hard to imagine that the composer of this wonderful music often doubted his abilities.