Transcript Classical Music Inspired by Folk Songx


See the lovely birch in the meadow,
Curly leaves all dancing when the wind blows.
Loo-lee-loo, when the wind blows,
Loo-lee-loo, when the wind blows.
4 Examples – inspired by folk music
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, fourth
mvmt.
 Copland’s Appalachian Spring, seventh
mvmt.
 Chopin’s Mazurka, Opus 63, No. 4
 Granados’ 12 Danzas Espanol, No. 5,
Andaluza


All are Romantic Composers: 19th century, emphasis
away from intellectual, greater stress on emotions and
feelings
Tchaikovsky
Russian composer, 1840-1893
 Best known for his ballets: Swan Lake,
Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker
 Operas - Eugene Onegin and
Queen of Spades
 Inspired by European music,
especially Mozart

Symphone No.4, 4th Mvmt.
Composed after his divorce
 Much more expressive and emotive than
first three symphonies
 Uses Russian folk tune “Birch Tree” as
main theme
 Nationalism – was he or wasn’t he a
nationalist?

Vocabulary
Movement: one part of a larger
composition that is relatively complete
and independent.
 Theme: a melody that assumes
importance in a composition
because of its central and continued use.
 Nationalism: second half of 19th century,
composer should use folk
melodies and rhythms

Aaron Copland
American Composer, 1900-1990
 Known for his ballets and operas:
Billy the Kid, Rodeo,The Tender Land
 Also had successful conducting career
 Composed at the piano
 Martha Graham: dancer and
choreographer 1944 Appalachian Spring

Appalachian Spring
Copland’s most famous ballet
 Used famous Shaker Tune in 7th
movement: “Simple Gifts” and variations
 Later scored it for orchestra – now
performed more as orchestra suite than
ballet

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, 'Tis the gift
to come down where we ought to be, And when we find
ourselves in the place just right, 'Twill be in the valley of
love and delight. When true simplicity is gain'd, To bow and
to bend we shan't be asham'd, To turn, turn will be our
delight, Till by turning, turning we come round right.
Vocabulary
Variations: the modification
or transformation of a musical idea
(theme/melody) in a way that retains
essential feature of the original
 Shaker: a religious sect dedicated to
achieving perfection by
abstaining from sin, women
also spiritual leaders

Frédéric Chopin
Polish composer and virtuoso
pianist, 1818-1849
 Child prodigy, his music is
known for its expressive and romantic
melodies
 preferred to perform in private salons
 Taught piano lessons in Paris
 Composed almost exclusively for piano

Mazurka, Opus 63, no. 3
Chopin composed over 50 Mazurkas
 Never gave titles to his compositions
 Always in a triple meter
 Great use of rubato
 Highly technical but also expressive

Vocabulary
Rubato: a flexible tempo
according to musical expression.
 Opus: used with a number to indicate the
chronological order of a composer’s
entire output.
 Salon: a gathering of intellectuals to refine
their taste and increase their knowledge
through conversation.

Enrique Granados
Spanish composer and pianist,
1867-1916
 Known mostly for his piano
works, but also wrote 6 operas
 Founded a piano school
 Much of his work was
published after his death
 Not know for his work ethic

12 Danzas Espanola
No. 5 Andaluza

Inspired by Spanish folk music

Published individually without titles

Andaluza is a region in Spain known for
its Flamenco

The piano is percussive and also fluid

Later this work was scored for guitar
Granados was inspired by
Francisco Goya – a Spanish
painter
Spring
The Milkmaid