U - Z
Tuba Concerto in F Minor, composed by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Official classification: Concerto, Classical Pieces, Audio, Williams, Vaughan, Curriculum support, Unit 14. The concerto, Naxos
An extract from the Classical Destinations series (www.classicaldestinations.com) focusing on Italy and Vivaldi and Verdik .
Official classification: Europe, Composers, Video, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Classical, Verdi, Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco, Vivaldi, Antonio Lucio, Italy, Curriculum support, Classical Destinations
An extract from the Classical Destinations series (www.classicaldestinations.com) - Haylie Ecker discussing Vivaldi and the Baroque period.
Official classification: Europe, Composers, Video, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Classical, Vivaldi, Antonio Lucio, Curriculum support, Classical Destinations
Part 2 of an extract from the Classical Destinations series (www.classicaldestinations.com) focusing on Italy and Vivaldi and Verdik .
Official classification: Europe, Composers, Video, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Classical, Verdi, Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco, Vivaldi, Antonio Lucio, Italy, Curriculum support, Classical Destinations
The beginning of Act III of Die Walküre, the second of the four operas by German composer, Richard Wagner.
Used frequently in media such as TV and film in lots of different contexts.
KS1 idea: listen to explore music made for a purpose, picturing warriors riding huge horses. Also useful to contrast tempo and dynamics with Bach's Air on a G String.
Official classification: The Romantic Period, Orchestras, Classical Pieces, Audio, Wagner, Wilhelm Richard, Curriculum support, Media
Performance of The Grand March from Verdi's opera 'Aida' by New York Philharmonic, conducted by Leonard Bernstein.
Official classification: The Romantic Period, Classical Pieces, Audio, Verdi, Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco, Curriculum support
Dramatic opening to Verdi's opera from 1851, begins with soft brass and builds in volume and texture, repeating motif around one note, creating drama and tension, added to by the strings. Maintains a steady slow pace throughout.
Official classification: Brass, Bowed Strings, Opera, The Romantic Period, Classical Pieces, Audio, Verdi, Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco, Curriculum support
Suggested as a contrasting piece of music to Tchaikovsky's Chinese Dance as pulse is less obvious. From Verdi's opera Nabucco.
Official classification: Opera, The Romantic Period, Classical Pieces, Audio, Verdi, Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco, Curriculum support
'O trenzinho do Caipira' by 20th century Brazilian composer is brilliantly descriptive piece, can pupils identify what part of the train each group of instruments represents? Also notice the changes in timbre and tempo.
KS1/2 idea: Play from beginning and ask ch to make a 'train' action, with hands by their sides, in time with the music. Why is it so difficult to keep in time at first? The tempo is unsteady and keeps changing until finally settling into a steady beat when the melody begins.
Official classification: Expressive & Descriptive Sounds, Tempo, Timbre, Unit 2. Sounds interesting - Exploring sounds, 1900-1949, Classical Pieces, Audio, Programme Music, Curriculum support, Transport, Villa-Lobos, Heitor
Darth Vader's Theme music, composed by John Williams for 'Episode V The Empire Strikes Back' released in 1980 with video footage from Episodes IV-VI. A good example of leitmotif, a recurrent theme associated with characters or events. References to the theme can also be heard in other pieces from the soundtrack to the prequel trilogy. Also interesting to listen and hear the similarities in Mars from Holst's Planet Suite.
Official classification: Theme & Variation, Space, 1980s, Film & Animation, Video, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif
From the soundtrack to Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secret by John Williams. Example of musical theme (leitmotif), used the subsequent films.
Official classification: The 20th & 21st Centuries, Film & Animation, Classical Pieces, Audio, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif
From the soundtrack to Episode I The Phantom Menace by John Williams, used in the scene when the Podracers prepare to race features brass fanfare.
Official classification: Space, The 20th & 21st Centuries, Film & Animation, Classical Pieces, Audio, Unit 18 Journey Into Space, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif
From the soundtrack to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by John Williams. Example of musical theme (leitmotif), used also as the main title theme and in all subsequent films.
Official classification: The 20th & 21st Centuries, Film & Animation, Classical Pieces, Audio, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif
From soundtrack to Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope by John Williams and used as the main title theme throughout all six Star Wars movies.
Official classification: Space, The 20th & 21st Centuries, Film & Animation, Classical Pieces, Audio, Unit 18 Journey Into Space, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif
Theme (leitmotif) of combat between good and evil from the soundtrack Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace and used in Episodes II & III. Features distinctive use of bold choral voice harmony.
Official classification: Space, The 20th & 21st Centuries, Film & Animation, Classical Pieces, Audio, Unit 18 Journey Into Space, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif
From the soundtrack to Episode II Attack Of The Clones, this is the love theme, or leitmotif, for Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala. It makes an interesting comparison with the Han Solo & Princess theme composed 20+ years earlier for Episode V. KS2/3 Pupils who are familiar with the story may be able to identify why the music takes a darker turn halfway through implying the darker times ahead.
Official classification: Space, The 20th & 21st Centuries, Film & Animation, Classical Pieces, Audio, Unit 18 Journey Into Space, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif
From the soundtrack to Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace by John Williams in which each character has their own theme or leitmotif. There are subtle references to the Imperial March (Darth Vader's theme) in the latter part of this piece, making reference to Anakin's impending demise.
Official classification: Space, The 20th & 21st Centuries, Film & Animation, Classical Pieces, Audio, Unit 18 Journey Into Space, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif
From the soundtrack to Episode V The Empire Strikes Back by John Williams in which each main character has their own musical theme or leitmotif and in this example Han Solo and Princess Leia themes can be heard.
Official classification: Space, The 20th & 21st Centuries, Film & Animation, Classical Pieces, Audio, Unit 18 Journey Into Space, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif
Darth Vader's Theme music, composed by John Williams for Star Wars 'Episode V The Empire Strikes Back'. A good example of leitmotif, a recurrent theme associated with characters or events. References to the theme can also be heard in other pieces from the soundtrack to the prequel trilogy. Also interesting to listen and hear the similarities in Mars from Holst's Planet Suite.
Official classification: Space, 1970s, Film & Animation, Classical Pieces, Audio, United States, Unit 18 Journey Into Space, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif
Theme from soundtrack of the film starring Christopher Reeve, which makes use of leitmotifs that make reference to characters in the movie, including 'Superman Fanfare' a short triad-based motif, played just before the 'Main Theme'or 'Superman march' which consists of two sections, the main melody played brass followed by a lighter section initially played on the strings.
KS3 pupils may want to focus listening by identifying these leitmotifs, whilst KS1/2 pupils should be able to spot the changes in tempo, timbre and identify the many orchestral instrument sounds.
Official classification: 1970s, Film & Animation, Classical Pieces, Audio, United States, Curriculum support, Williams, John, leitmotif