Programme Music

1. Programme Music Peter and the Wolf

2. Fortissimo Forte Mezzo forte Mezzo piano Piano Pianissimo Crescendo Diminuendo Very loud Loud Moderately loud Moderately quiet Quietly Very Quiet Gradually louder Gradually quieter Starter- Dynamics

3. Presto Allegro Moderato Andante Largo Accelerando Rallentando Very fast Fast Medium pace Walking pace Slow Gradually faster Gradually slower Tempo

4. Aim of Lesson • To identify and use Italian musical terms to describe music • To show how composers use instrumental timbre and melody to create characters and storylines in music • To understand the term Programme Music

5. Peter and the Wolf • Name the instrument for each character. • Say why you think the composer chose the instrument (timbre).

6. The Bird • The flute has a bird like timbre- it is high pitched and sounds like a bird singing. • It can play fast runs and swoop from high to low quickly, suggesting flight. • Solo instrument for one character

7. The Duck • The oboe has a nasal timbre- it sounds a little like a duck quacking. • The melody stays within a few notes suggesting the waddling or paddling duck. • Solo instrument.

8. The Cat • The clarinet has a warm and velvety sound in its lower register and a sharp and screechy sound in its upper. This can suggest the cat lounging around, or chasing the bird up a tree. • Solo instrument.

9. Grandfather • The bassoon has a creaky, grumpy timbre to it. • The melody is andante in tempo suggesting that grandfather is not as agile as other characters. • Solo instrument.

10. The Hunters • The Hunters’ melody is played by the woodwind section (more than one hunter). • It moves through other instruments such as brass, suggesting their different characters and the importance of the hunters.. • It suggests that they are creeping through the forest (or stalking prey).

11. Hunters Guns • The hunters’ guns are played by the timpani and bass drums. • They make a loud bang and because they are played very fast (presto) they sound like all the hunters are shooting at once.

12. Peter • The strings play Peters’ theme. • The melody suggests that Peter is happy and mischievous. • The strings can play high and low notes at various tempi and dynamics, describing Peter’s actions accurately. • Using more than one instrument for Peter shows his strength and courage.

13. The Wolf • The wolf’s theme is played by three French horns. Their timbre can be brassy suggesting menace. • Three French horns suggest the strength of the wolf’s character. • The melody is in a minor key and is sinister which suggests danger.

14. Sound Painting • Composers use timbre and melody to “paint” a picture or story in sound. • What the instruments play and how the melody is altered moves the story along without the need for a narrator.

15. What’s happening? Name the characters and what you think is happening in the story. How does the use of the instruments suggest this? 1) 4) 2) 5) 3)

16. Answers 1) Wolf and the bird. The wolf is snapping at the bird who is circling above his head. You can hear the French horns “biting” at the flute. 2) The cat is climbing the tree. You can hear the pitch of the clarinet rise as the cat climbs. The melody stops rising when the cat settles on the branch.

17. Answers 3) The Duck has been eaten by the Wolf. You can tell this by the horns at the beginning and then a sad (minor key) melody afterwards on the oboe. 4) The Grandfather and the Cat. Both the bassoon and clarinet are playing at the same time.

18. Answers 5) Peter, the Wolf and the Hunters all appear in this clip. Later you can hear the hunters’ melody being played with the cat (clarinet) and bird (flute). Peter’s tune is being played by strings and brass showing he has captured the Wolf and is marching triumphantly with the hunters (drums).

19. Extension Activity • What instruments would you suggest for the following and why?: • A) Elephant B) Snake C) Hippo

20. Plenary • Write a definition of Programme Music using the terms “sound painting” and “timbre”.