NSO Young People's Concert: Listen Up!

Did you know music has a lot to say? Without any words at all, music is a language that anyone can understand. It tells stories, expresses feelings, and even makes us think. Get ready to hear how!

National Symphony Orchestra Young People’s Concert 2013-14 Ankush Kumar Bahl, conductor Nick Kendall, violin soloist and host David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO. Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by

Visit http ://goo.g l/Swssa6 for a video introduction to this concert program.

Imagine an orchestra, a group of 96 musicians playing all sorts of instruments. Each instrument has a different sound or “voice.”

But instead of sounding like a bunch of noise, a composer, or someone who writes music, blends these unique sounds into a beautiful and amazing “conversation.” How? Because music is a language.

So Who’s Talking? There are four sections, or families of instruments, that make up an orchestra. Each section has different qualities—just like people. string

The section is made up of violins, violas, cellos, and basses. These instruments can sound soft and sweet, or soaring and majestic.

You sound so sweet today.

woodwind

The section gathers flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons. Woodwinds can carry the melody over the quietest and the loudest parts of a piece. Some think they come closer to the human singing voice than any of the other instruments.

That’s because I got a new bow.

You sound mellow today.

2

Me? I’m mellow all the time.

All Eyes on Me: The Conductor

Hey Me, Too! The Soloist

The conductor faces the orchestra with his or her back to the audience. Marking time with a baton, the conductor starts and stops the musicians at the right moments, and makes sure they play together. The best conductors bring out the emotion in the music to make the orchestra’s performance more enjoyable for the audience.

Many composers write music to feature one instrument over all others. When that happens, an orchestra can perform with an additional musician who is not necessarily a member of the orchestra.

Performing with extraordinary skill on his or her instrument, this musician, or soloist, shows how dazzling their instrument “speaks.” Violinist and host Nick Kendall is this concert’s soloist.

brass

The section includes horns, trumpets, trombones, and tuba. Brass instruments are important in the loud, exciting parts of the music. They also can be used to create epic swells and sudden bursts of sound.

My loud voice will get this party started.

Sure, we can definitely pump it up.

percussion

The section is home to drums, chimes, gongs, cymbals, and whistles. These instruments are used to provide pounding rhythms, booming drum rolls, and driving energy.

Ow ! Easy, cymbals !

You will find four flashcards with this Cuesheet , each one representing a different section of the orchestra. As you listen to a selection on the Listening CD, “match the music” by raising the flashcard that shows the instrument family you hear. Perk up those ears because you’ll need both hands: You just may hear all four sections of the orchestra at the same time.

I’m sorry.

Was I too loud?

3

Visit http ://goo.g l/Swssa6 for a video introduction to this concert program.

Imagine an orchestra, a group of 96 musicians playing all sorts of instruments. Each instrument has a different sound or “voice.”

But instead of sounding like a bunch of noise, a composer, or someone who writes music, blends these unique sounds into a beautiful and amazing “conversation.” How? Because music is a language.

So Who’s Talking? There are four sections, or families of instruments, that make up an orchestra. Each section has different qualities—just like people. string

The section is made up of violins, violas, cellos, and basses. These instruments can sound soft and sweet, or soaring and majestic.

You sound so sweet today.

woodwind

The section gathers flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons. Woodwinds can carry the melody over the quietest and the loudest parts of a piece. Some think they come closer to the human singing voice than any of the other instruments.

That’s because I got a new bow.

You sound mellow today.

2

Me? I’m mellow all the time.

All Eyes on Me: The Conductor

Hey Me, Too! The Soloist

The conductor faces the orchestra with his or her back to the audience. Marking time with a baton, the conductor starts and stops the musicians at the right moments, and makes sure they play together. The best conductors bring out the emotion in the music to make the orchestra’s performance more enjoyable for the audience.

Many composers write music to feature one instrument over all others. When that happens, an orchestra can perform with an additional musician who is not necessarily a member of the orchestra.

Performing with extraordinary skill on his or her instrument, this musician, or soloist, shows how dazzling their instrument “speaks.” Violinist and host Nick Kendall is this concert’s soloist.

brass

The section includes horns, trumpets, trombones, and tuba. Brass instruments are important in the loud, exciting parts of the music. They also can be used to create epic swells and sudden bursts of sound.

My loud voice will get this party started.

Sure, we can definitely pump it up.

percussion

The section is home to drums, chimes, gongs, cymbals, and whistles. These instruments are used to provide pounding rhythms, booming drum rolls, and driving energy.

Ow ! Easy, cymbals !

You will find four flashcards with this Cuesheet , each one representing a different section of the orchestra. As you listen to a selection on the Listening CD, “match the music” by raising the flashcard that shows the instrument family you hear. Perk up those ears because you’ll need both hands: You just may hear all four sections of the orchestra at the same time.

I’m sorry.

Was I too loud?

3

Composers and musicians are able to express feelings, tell stories, and exchange thoughts and ideas through music—without any words at all.

“Wait a minute, language needs words.”

“Music uses sounds instead of words. It contains hard sounds and soft sounds that work much like consonants and vowels.”

“ Yeah, but language uses sentences and paragraphs.”

“Composers do that, too. A melody is a musical phrase, with a beginning, middle, and end. Sometimes, an instrument makes a musical statement.

That statement might be a “theme” that is introduced and repeated.”

“ But music can’t tell a joke, start an argument, or apologize .”

“Oh, yes it can! Music can do all of those things—and paint a picture, too.

Music uses tone, pitch, and rhythm to express different meanings.

Music can soothe us, or make us anxious—or make us want to party ! ”

“Okay, so…can anyone “speak” music?” “ Because it doesn’t use words, music is a universal language. People in different countries and different cultures can hear the same music and often respond the same way.”

Tell Me a Story Once upon a time, Russian composer Mikhail Glinka (pronounced mi-kah-ELL GLEEN-kuh) wrote the Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila (ROOS-lahn and lood-ME-lah) to tell a famous Russian folktale. The story introduces Ruslan, a knight who braves monsters and dragons to rescue the princess Ludmila from an evil sorcerer. Sit back and listen to Glinka tell this story through his music.

Show Some Emotion

Think About It

The finale of Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s (ILL-ee-itch cheye-KOFF-skee) Violin Concerto (kon-CHAIR-toh) expresses a great mix of emotions. Listen closely and see if you hear the sound of someone who has overcome sadness and confusion, and who now embraces joy and a new enthusiasm for life.

French composer Jules Massenet (mass-uhNAY) wrote Meditation for Solo Violin and Orchestra to be included in his opera Thaïs (tah-EES). The music plays during a quiet moment when Thaïs, a young woman, thinks about the choices she has made in her life.

Music Speaks!

Every composer uses the same basic tools to write music and speak to musicians. One tool is pitch which refers to the high notes and low notes. Another tool is rhythm or the long notes and short notes. Once you mix pitch and rhythm, you’ve written a melody.

Other tools the composer uses include tempo, dynamics, and major and minor keys. The tempo refers to the speed of the music; dynamics focuses on the music’s volume—how loud or soft the music sounds. And composers can change the mood of their music by switching from a major key to a minor key.

4

Composers use some tools (with Italian names) to tell musicians how they want their music played including:

(leh-GAH-toh) for “long and sustained” notes (stah-KAH-toh) for “short and quick” notes ( PITZ-ih-KAH-toh) for “short and plucked” Through the Listening Activities and at the concert, you’ll learn how composers use these tools to create funny, dramatic, thoughtful, and emotional conversations through music.

5

Composers and musicians are able to express feelings, tell stories, and exchange thoughts and ideas through music—without any words at all.

“Wait a minute, language needs words.”

“Music uses sounds instead of words. It contains hard sounds and soft sounds that work much like consonants and vowels.”

“ Yeah, but language uses sentences and paragraphs.”

“Composers do that, too. A melody is a musical phrase, with a beginning, middle, and end. Sometimes, an instrument makes a musical statement.

That statement might be a “theme” that is introduced and repeated.”

“ But music can’t tell a joke, start an argument, or apologize .”

“Oh, yes it can! Music can do all of those things—and paint a picture, too.

Music uses tone, pitch, and rhythm to express different meanings.

Music can soothe us, or make us anxious—or make us want to party ! ”

“Okay, so…can anyone “speak” music?” “ Because it doesn’t use words, music is a universal language. People in different countries and different cultures can hear the same music and often respond the same way.”

Tell Me a Story Once upon a time, Russian composer Mikhail Glinka (pronounced mi-kah-ELL GLEEN-kuh) wrote the Overture to Ruslan and Ludmila (ROOS-lahn and lood-ME-lah) to tell a famous Russian folktale. The story introduces Ruslan, a knight who braves monsters and dragons to rescue the princess Ludmila from an evil sorcerer. Sit back and listen to Glinka tell this story through his music.

Show Some Emotion

Think About It

The finale of Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s (ILL-ee-itch cheye-KOFF-skee) Violin Concerto (kon-CHAIR-toh) expresses a great mix of emotions. Listen closely and see if you hear the sound of someone who has overcome sadness and confusion, and who now embraces joy and a new enthusiasm for life.

French composer Jules Massenet (mass-uhNAY) wrote Meditation for Solo Violin and Orchestra to be included in his opera Thaïs (tah-EES). The music plays during a quiet moment when Thaïs, a young woman, thinks about the choices she has made in her life.

Music Speaks!

Every composer uses the same basic tools to write music and speak to musicians. One tool is pitch which refers to the high notes and low notes. Another tool is rhythm or the long notes and short notes. Once you mix pitch and rhythm, you’ve written a melody.

Other tools the composer uses include tempo, dynamics, and major and minor keys. The tempo refers to the speed of the music; dynamics focuses on the music’s volume—how loud or soft the music sounds. And composers can change the mood of their music by switching from a major key to a minor key.

4

Composers use some tools (with Italian names) to tell musicians how they want their music played including:

(leh-GAH-toh) for “long and sustained” notes (stah-KAH-toh) for “short and quick” notes ( PITZ-ih-KAH-toh) for “short and plucked” Through the Listening Activities and at the concert, you’ll learn how composers use these tools to create funny, dramatic, thoughtful, and emotional conversations through music.

5

Small, But Mighty

Meet Nick Kendall

When the violin was invented in Italy about 500 years ago, people quickly fell in love with its ability to sound similar to the human voice.

Made of wood with four metal strings, the violin was also compact and the perfect size for a suitcase. As musicians travelled, they spread the sound of violin music around the world.

Growing up in a family of musicians, it’s no surprise that Nick picked up a violin at age three. In fact, it was his grandfather who introduced Japan’s successful Suzuki method of early music education to America—the theory that pre-school children can learn an instrument the same way they master a language.

While the violin is the smallest of all the stringed instruments, it makes the highest sound. The body of the instrument has a hollow center. This center is called a resonating chamber, and it makes the sound of the strings loud and strong. That sound comes out of the two f-shaped holes.

Nick proved to be a “prodigy,” a young person with exceptional talent. Every day, he carried his violin to school for after-school lessons and practice. He admits that sometimes he got teased, but “my biggest memories are of how much joy and pleasure there was to be making music by myself and [with] friends in large groups.”

Grip

To play a violin, a musician places one end of the instrument under the chin and the other end in one hand, which is also used to press the strings against the fingerboard. By using those fingers to change the length of the vibrating string, the player changes the highness or lowness of the notes. The other hand “plays” the violin by using the right hand to draw a bow made of horsehair across the strings— or by using the fingers to pluck the strings.

Hair

Stick Chin Rest Strings F-Holes

6

Fingerboard Neck

Nick’s hard work paid off. When he turned 17, he won the National Symphony Orchestra’s Young Soloists’ Competition.

The following year, he was a featured guest soloist with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra before studying at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. Today, Nick is an award-winning soloist performing classical recitals in major cities across America and around the world. He is also a member of the string trio “Time for Three” that performs all kinds of music—from hip-hop to Bach, Mozart to country western. Besides performing, Nick enjoys working with students and sharing classical music with young people.

Tuning Pegs

7

Small, But Mighty

Meet Nick Kendall

When the violin was invented in Italy about 500 years ago, people quickly fell in love with its ability to sound similar to the human voice.

Made of wood with four metal strings, the violin was also compact and the perfect size for a suitcase. As musicians travelled, they spread the sound of violin music around the world.

Growing up in a family of musicians, it’s no surprise that Nick picked up a violin at age three. In fact, it was his grandfather who introduced Japan’s successful Suzuki method of early music education to America—the theory that pre-school children can learn an instrument the same way they master a language.

While the violin is the smallest of all the stringed instruments, it makes the highest sound. The body of the instrument has a hollow center. This center is called a resonating chamber, and it makes the sound of the strings loud and strong. That sound comes out of the two f-shaped holes.

Nick proved to be a “prodigy,” a young person with exceptional talent. Every day, he carried his violin to school for after-school lessons and practice. He admits that sometimes he got teased, but “my biggest memories are of how much joy and pleasure there was to be making music by myself and [with] friends in large groups.”

Grip

To play a violin, a musician places one end of the instrument under the chin and the other end in one hand, which is also used to press the strings against the fingerboard. By using those fingers to change the length of the vibrating string, the player changes the highness or lowness of the notes. The other hand “plays” the violin by using the right hand to draw a bow made of horsehair across the strings— or by using the fingers to pluck the strings.

Hair

Stick Chin Rest Strings F-Holes

6

Fingerboard Neck

Nick’s hard work paid off. When he turned 17, he won the National Symphony Orchestra’s Young Soloists’ Competition.

The following year, he was a featured guest soloist with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra before studying at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music. Today, Nick is an award-winning soloist performing classical recitals in major cities across America and around the world. He is also a member of the string trio “Time for Three” that performs all kinds of music—from hip-hop to Bach, Mozart to country western. Besides performing, Nick enjoys working with students and sharing classical music with young people.

Tuning Pegs

7

Before the concert, your teacher will share musical selections from the program. Listen to the music and do the listening activities.

You’ll enjoy the concert more if you’re familiar with the music.

David M. Rubenstein Chairman

Things to Know About a Concert

Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education

n An orchestra is a group of musicians who play different instruments. There are 96 members of the National Symphony Orchestra. Many of them will be playing at the concert.

Michael M. Kaiser President

Christoph Eschenbach Music Director National Symphony Orchestra NSO Young People’s Concerts are made possible in part by the generous support of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Park Foundation, Inc., U.S. Department of Education, The Volgenau Foundation, and The Clark Charitable Foundation.

n The conductor is a person who leads the orchestra.

Conductors use their right hand to tell the orchestra the tempo (speed) to play, and use their left hand to indicate the dynamics (loud or soft). Some use a slender white stick called a baton (buh-TAHN) as they conduct.

At the concert, watch how the conductor communicates with the musicians. n After an orchestra is seated, the leader of the violins, known as the “first violinist” or “concertmaster,” bows to applause and takes his or her seat. This person then asks the principal oboist to sound an “A” note, to which the entire orchestra tunes. Watch for the first violinist at the beginning of the performance and clap to welcome him or her to the stage.

Enjoy the performance!

For more about LISTEN UP! MUSIC IS A LANGUAGE, go online to: http://goo.gl/Swssa6 8

Additional support for Performances for Young Audiences is provided by Adobe Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Macy’s Foundation; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; Washington Gas; 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.

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