What Makes Music Sound Scary ? The music in a theater performance, television show, or movie often tells you that something scary might happen. But how? To create frightening music, composers might use: fast tempos (speeds) that can give a sense of alarm, wildness, or a chase. very slow tempos, often with low notes, that suggest someone or something might be sneaking up behind you. high-pitched notes that can represent a wicked laugh or a whirling wind. different combinations of tones to create unpleasant or uncomfortable sounds.
75 Musicians Led by One Conductor
David M. Rubenstein Chairman Michael M. Kaiser President Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education
At today’s concert, conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl will lead 75 members of the National Symphony Orchestra in playing the music. The conductor is a person who leads the orchestra. Conductors generally use their right hand to tell the orchestra how fast to play and use their left hand to tell the musicians how loud or soft to play. Some use a slender white stick called a baton as they conduct. At the concert, watch how the conductor communicates with the musicians. And, be on the lookout for the musicians’ special Halloween costumes!
Christoph Eschenbach Music Director, National Symphony Orchestra The Macy’s Foundation and Washington Gas are the proud sponsors of the NSO Family Concerts.
A Good Audience…
Stays seated.
Stays quiet.
wait!
Watches and listens carefully.
Claps at the end when the conductor turns around.
there’s more!
The Haunted Hall Before each concert, visit the Haunted Hall (the spookily transformed Kennedy Center Atrium on the Terrace Level), 11:30 a.m.–12 :45 p.m. and 1:30 – 2:45 p.m. for trick-or-treating, face painting, costumed characters, and Halloween merriment galore. Plus, enjoy hands-on fun with the instruments that the musicians will play on stage at the musical instrument “petting zoo” (a project of the Women’s Committee for the NSO).
Kids’ Chat After the 3 p.m. performance, stick around to ask questions of conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl and some of the NSO musicians on stage.
Upcoming Family Concerts Please plan to join us at the next National Symphony Orchestra Family Concerts, performed by the full NSO: Sunday, February 23, 2014 — Peter and the Wolf Sunday, June 1, 2014 —Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage
Additional support for the NSO Family Concerts is provided by the Women’s Committee for the National Symphony Orchestra. Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided in part by Adobe Foundation, The Clark Charitable Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; U.S. Department of Education; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
sh anku bahl r a kum ductor con
www.kennedy-center.org/artsedge
Cuesheets are produced by ARTSEDGE, an education program of the Kennedy Center. Learn more about education at the Kennedy Center at www.kennedy-center.org/education The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. © 2013 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The NSO also presents full orchestra Young People’s Concerts for school groups in the Concert Hall each season during the school day for grades 3 through 6.
W
el to the come, boys an the Ken haunted Conc d girls, introd nedy Center! ert Hall of treats uce you to l Today, we’ll ots of abo mu fantast ut witches, magica sical ical cr l spell eatures all per s, , and for Sympho med by the Na more— ny Orch t estra (NSional O).
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO. Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by