Additional References: • Talking Music: (Book) Conversations with American composers by William Duckworth. Da Capo, 1999. • Marsalis on Music by Wynton Marsalis (Book w/CD, also available on video), Norton, 1995. • www.bangonacan.org
Discussion Questions: After listening to the audio: • How is this music similar or different to most musicplayed on the radio? Could this music be played at a party? Why or why not? • Were you able to recognize the instruments in the piece? • What does it mean to play music that is described as cutting-edge? What risks are being taken? • What is the opposite of cheating, lying and stealing? How could these opposite ideas be expressed in musical sound? What instruments would you include? • What art forms have you experienced? (ballet, rock and roll, orchestral music, jazz, opera, theater, poetry etc.) What were your feelings about the art you heard? • Does your attitude towards art impact your appreciation of art? How? Summary of the Music Scenario: Since the beginning of the 20th Century, American composers and musicians have been creating new and vibrant music. Scott Joplin (1868-1917) was one of the first, creating a unique hybrid of African rhythms and European harmonies in his Maple Leaf Rag, composed in 1899. Aaron Copland (1900-1990) was the first American composer to gain international acclaim, creating a simple, earthy sound that also borrowed themes and ideas from folk music. Duke Ellington (1889-1974) also had a distinct musical voice which he shared in his many compositions for the jazz Big Band sound. Over time American music developed many styles - blues, jazz, rock-’n’-roll, country, rap, hip-hop, and variations of classical music. As ideas evolve, these styles get mixed and matched in very exciting ways. In fact, rock-’n’-roll began as a combination of country music and the blues. The members of Bang on a Can are influenced by the constant musical activity that came before them and that still continues today. Audio-Visual Materials: • Artsource® audio: Cheating. Lying. Stealing. Composed by David Lang, from the 1995 album Cheating. Lying. Stealing. Performed by the Bang on a Can All-stars.
Multidisciplinary Options: • Divide the class into four equal groups. Have each group develop a simple rhythmic pattern. Figure out how to start and stop these patterns in unpredictable ways. Perform for your classmates. Try having more than one group perform at the same time. • With a partner, develop a story that will be accompanied by Cheating. Lying. Stealing. Keep in mind the emotional content of the piece. Allow the music to be a character in the story, by providing several spaces for it to play alone. Sample Experiences: LEVEL I * • Create a simple story with a beginning, middle and end for a piece of music. • Select a piece of music that appeals to you and express how it makes you feel through dance and movement. LEVEL II * • Create vocal sounds that represent a human emotion or human trait. • Listen to three to five differing styles of music - rock, jazz, blues, salsa, classical, etc. Discuss their similarities and differences. • Write the lyrics to a song about your life. Describe what the music of this song would sound like. LEVEL III * • Learn some techniques that help musicians communicate emotions on their instruments. • Examine the emotional content of three popular songs on the radio. What do these songs make you feel or think? • Ask older members of your family or community to share songs that make them feel happy or sad. Bring recordings of these songs to share with your class. *
Indicates sample lessons
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