Cuesheet
What Makes Music Sound Scary?
Performance Guide
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.
high-pitched notes that can represent a wicked laugh or a whirling wind.
very slow tempos, often with low notes, that suggest someone or something might be sneaking up behind you.
different combinations of tones to create unpleasant or uncomfortable sounds.
Many Musicians Led by One Conductor
Stays seated.
At today’s concert, conductor Nicholas Hersh will lead approximately 75 members of the National Symphony Orchestra in playing the music.
Claps at the end of each piece when the conductor turns around.
wait ! there’s more! The Haunted Hall
Upcoming Family Events
Starting one hour before each concert, visit the Haunted Hall musical instrument “petting zoo” in the spookily-transformed Kennedy Center Atrium on the Roof Terrace level. Enjoy trick-or-treating and Halloween merriment galore while getting up close with the spooktacular instruments played on stage (a project of the Volunteer Council for the NSO).
Please plan to join us at upcoming NSO Family Concerts, performed by the full NSO, or the next NSO Music for Young Audiences program, performed by small ensembles: November 23 & 24, 2019 NSO Music for Young Audiences: Peter and Friends
Creative Conversation
January 18, 2020 NSO Music for Young Audiences: Beauty and the Beat
After the 4 p.m. performance, stick around to ask questions and hear stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with some of the musicians.
February 16, 2020 NSO Family Concert: Girl Power! Celebrating Women in Music
Field Guide to the Orchestra Discover lots more about orchestras, classical music, and the tools composers use in our Field Guide to the Orchestra bit.ly/NSOGirlPower
April 19, 2020 NSO Family Concert: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs ( a Symphonic Spectacular ) 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.
Halloween
k t o ac u lar o p S
Watches and listens carefully.
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!
NSO Family Concert
Presented in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall National Symphony Orchestra Nicholas Hersh, conductor
elcome boys and girls, to the haunted Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center! Today, we’ll introduce you to lots of musical treats about witches, ghostly spirits, magical spells, fantastical creatures, and more—all performed by the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). David M. Rubenstein Chairman
Deborah F. Rutter President
Mario R. Rossero
Senior Vice President Education
Gianandrea Noseda
Music Director National Symphony Orchestra Additional support for the NSO Family Concerts is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Anne and Chris Reyes; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; the U.S. Department of Education; and the Volunteer Council of the National Symphony Orchestra. NSO Family Concerts are made possible in part by the generous support of Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather. Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program. 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. © 2019 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences
C
omposers sometimes write spooky and scary music to go with plays, ballets, movies, poems, and even operas about supernatural (not real) creatures and events. And sometimes music “tells” a story all by itself. Read here about the stories that inspired the music and what to listen for in the performance. So, simply dust the cobwebs off your seat (just kidding) and warm up your imagination.
happy ting! n u a h
Boo! Listen up for the similarities in the four
Th e Sorcerer ’s A ppr en tic e
pieces of music from the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, all composed by John Williams.
“ He d w i g ’s T h em e ”
tt er v ie H a rr y Po fr o m th e m o e n to er er ’s S a n d th e S o rc li a m s by Jo h n W il g wizard al world of youn Visit the magic hite owl d his faithful w Harry Potter an ritten for ig’s Theme,” w w ed “H in ig w . A little Hed the book series on d se ba ie ov 2000,” the first m n for “Nimbus te lis , m ra og pr thrill later in the ly captures the which musical broomstick. Harry’s magical of ) f! ie ch is m (and
he L is t e n f o r t :
ical notes • tinkling, mag lesta played by the ce h-LEH-stuh), (pronounced su t. like instrumen a small pianods d whirling soun • swooping an t and magic. suggesting fligh imbing e broomstick cl • sounds of th 2000.” er in “Nimbus higher and high ds fluttering soun • swirling and .” 0 0 0 bus 2 (flutes) in “Nim
“Dan ce des Cygn es” (Dan ce of the Swan s) from the ballet Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaiko vsky (cheye-K OF F-skee) Princess Odette and her young friends have been turned into swans by an evil sorcerer’s curse. A prince discovers her and falls in love, and the swans joyfully dance. Unfortunately, the wicked wizard is never far away.
Listen for the : • sweeping, gentle sounds from the string section answered by short passages from the woodwinds. • softer tones suggesting peace and calm. • repeating playful, bouncy melody from the woodwinds and strings.
“S c e n e Fa n ta s ti q u e : L e B alle t d e s R e v en a n ts ”
fr om 4 Pi èc es ca ra ct ér is ti q ue s (Fou r Ch ar ac te r Pi ec es ) by Clar a Sc hu m an n, ar ra ng ed by Ni ch olas He rs h Can you picture witch es dancing to celebrate being back from the dead? Here’s some devilish music to help.
L is te n fo r th e :
• double notes with a forceful note followed quickly by a softer one (as in DA -d a), giving a spooky vibe. • skipping, fast melo dy. • occasional “off ” or unpleasant sounds, suggesting somethin g otherworldly.
“ Har ry ’s Wo ndrous World ” from the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer ’s Stone by John Willi ams
Back to Hogwarts! Harry Potter’s theme music captures all the wonder, friendship, magic, mystery, and danger facing Harry. Speaking of danger, see whether you can imagine it in the spooky “The Sorcerer’s Stone” performed earlier in the program.
List en for the: • familiar melodies and magical sounds. • strong, sweeping melodies from strings and brass. • quieter but unpleasant tones at the end, suggesting mystery ahead. • long, heavy tones and bells getting louder to create a sense of dread (“The Sorcerer’s Stone”).
by Paul Duk as (doo -KA H) A young sorcerer’s apprentice casts a spell to make a broom carry water into the house. It works — except he can’t make the broom stop! Only when the sorcerer arrives is the spell reversed. This music inspired an animated retelling with Mickey Mouse in the movie Fantasia.
Lis ten for the : • crashing waves— loud cymbals. • apprentice’s relief that the flood stopped, and the silence right after the music gets really fast and loud (this happens twice; the first time the apprentice is wrong!).
“In th e Hall of th e Mou nt ai n Ki ng ” fro m Peer Gyn t Sui te No. 1 by Edv ard Gri eg ( gre eg )
A young adventurous boy named Peer Gynt meets the daughter of the Troll Mountain King. Imagine as he tiptoes after her into the King’s dark and frightening cave.
Lis ten for the : • sounds of Peer’s footsteps (bassoons) and how they change from beginning to end. • music becoming faster and louder as the King’s trolls chase Peer. • crashing sound (timpani and cymbals) as Peer escapes.
C
omposers sometimes write spooky and scary music to go with plays, ballets, movies, poems, and even operas about supernatural (not real) creatures and events. And sometimes music “tells” a story all by itself. Read here about the stories that inspired the music and what to listen for in the performance. So, simply dust the cobwebs off your seat (just kidding) and warm up your imagination.
happy ting! n u a h
Boo! Listen up for the similarities in the four
Th e Sorcerer ’s A ppr en tic e
pieces of music from the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, all composed by John Williams.
“ He d w i g ’s T h em e ”
tt er v ie H a rr y Po fr o m th e m o e n to er er ’s S a n d th e S o rc li a m s by Jo h n W il g wizard al world of youn Visit the magic hite owl d his faithful w Harry Potter an ritten for ig’s Theme,” w w ed “H in ig w . A little Hed the book series on d se ba ie ov 2000,” the first m n for “Nimbus te lis , m ra og pr thrill later in the ly captures the which musical broomstick. Harry’s magical of ) f! ie ch is m (and
he L is t e n f o r t :
ical notes • tinkling, mag lesta played by the ce h-LEH-stuh), (pronounced su t. like instrumen a small pianods d whirling soun • swooping an t and magic. suggesting fligh imbing e broomstick cl • sounds of th 2000.” er in “Nimbus higher and high ds fluttering soun • swirling and .” 0 0 0 bus 2 (flutes) in “Nim
“Dan ce des Cygn es” (Dan ce of the Swan s) from the ballet Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaiko vsky (cheye-K OF F-skee) Princess Odette and her young friends have been turned into swans by an evil sorcerer’s curse. A prince discovers her and falls in love, and the swans joyfully dance. Unfortunately, the wicked wizard is never far away.
Listen for the : • sweeping, gentle sounds from the string section answered by short passages from the woodwinds. • softer tones suggesting peace and calm. • repeating playful, bouncy melody from the woodwinds and strings.
“S c e n e Fa n ta s ti q u e : L e B alle t d e s R e v en a n ts ”
fr om 4 Pi èc es ca ra ct ér is ti q ue s (Fou r Ch ar ac te r Pi ec es ) by Clar a Sc hu m an n, ar ra ng ed by Ni ch olas He rs h Can you picture witch es dancing to celebrate being back from the dead? Here’s some devilish music to help.
L is te n fo r th e :
• double notes with a forceful note followed quickly by a softer one (as in DA -d a), giving a spooky vibe. • skipping, fast melo dy. • occasional “off ” or unpleasant sounds, suggesting somethin g otherworldly.
“ Har ry ’s Wo ndrous World ” from the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer ’s Stone by John Willi ams
Back to Hogwarts! Harry Potter’s theme music captures all the wonder, friendship, magic, mystery, and danger facing Harry. Speaking of danger, see whether you can imagine it in the spooky “The Sorcerer’s Stone” performed earlier in the program.
List en for the: • familiar melodies and magical sounds. • strong, sweeping melodies from strings and brass. • quieter but unpleasant tones at the end, suggesting mystery ahead. • long, heavy tones and bells getting louder to create a sense of dread (“The Sorcerer’s Stone”).
by Paul Duk as (doo -KA H) A young sorcerer’s apprentice casts a spell to make a broom carry water into the house. It works — except he can’t make the broom stop! Only when the sorcerer arrives is the spell reversed. This music inspired an animated retelling with Mickey Mouse in the movie Fantasia.
Lis ten for the : • crashing waves— loud cymbals. • apprentice’s relief that the flood stopped, and the silence right after the music gets really fast and loud (this happens twice; the first time the apprentice is wrong!).
“In th e Hall of th e Mou nt ai n Ki ng ” fro m Peer Gyn t Sui te No. 1 by Edv ard Gri eg ( gre eg )
A young adventurous boy named Peer Gynt meets the daughter of the Troll Mountain King. Imagine as he tiptoes after her into the King’s dark and frightening cave.
Lis ten for the : • sounds of Peer’s footsteps (bassoons) and how they change from beginning to end. • music becoming faster and louder as the King’s trolls chase Peer. • crashing sound (timpani and cymbals) as Peer escapes.
Cuesheet
What Makes Music Sound Scary?
Performance Guide
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.
high-pitched notes that can represent a wicked laugh or a whirling wind.
very slow tempos, often with low notes, that suggest someone or something might be sneaking up behind you.
different combinations of tones to create unpleasant or uncomfortable sounds.
Many Musicians Led by One Conductor
Stays seated.
At today’s concert, conductor Nicholas Hersh will lead approximately 75 members of the National Symphony Orchestra in playing the music.
Claps at the end of each piece when the conductor turns around.
wait ! there’s more! The Haunted Hall
Upcoming Family Events
Starting one hour before each concert, visit the Haunted Hall musical instrument “petting zoo” in the spookily-transformed Kennedy Center Atrium on the Roof Terrace level. Enjoy trick-or-treating and Halloween merriment galore while getting up close with the spooktacular instruments played on stage (a project of the Volunteer Council for the NSO).
Please plan to join us at upcoming NSO Family Concerts, performed by the full NSO, or the next NSO Music for Young Audiences program, performed by small ensembles: November 23 & 24, 2019 NSO Music for Young Audiences: Peter and Friends
Creative Conversation
January 18, 2020 NSO Music for Young Audiences: Beauty and the Beat
After the 4 p.m. performance, stick around to ask questions and hear stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with some of the musicians.
February 16, 2020 NSO Family Concert: Girl Power! Celebrating Women in Music
Field Guide to the Orchestra Discover lots more about orchestras, classical music, and the tools composers use in our Field Guide to the Orchestra bit.ly/NSOGirlPower
April 19, 2020 NSO Family Concert: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs ( a Symphonic Spectacular ) 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.
Halloween
k t o ac u lar o p S
Watches and listens carefully.
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!
NSO Family Concert
Presented in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall National Symphony Orchestra Nicholas Hersh, conductor
elcome boys and girls, to the haunted Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center! Today, we’ll introduce you to lots of musical treats about witches, ghostly spirits, magical spells, fantastical creatures, and more—all performed by the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). David M. Rubenstein Chairman
Deborah F. Rutter President
Mario R. Rossero
Senior Vice President Education
Gianandrea Noseda
Music Director National Symphony Orchestra Additional support for the NSO Family Concerts is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Anne and Chris Reyes; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation; the U.S. Department of Education; and the Volunteer Council of the National Symphony Orchestra. NSO Family Concerts are made possible in part by the generous support of Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather. Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program. 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. © 2019 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences