The Power of Listening

Transcription

1 Lesson 1 God Bless America Objective Students will learn to sing the patriotic song God Bless America and understand the purpose and function of patriotic songs. They will become familiar with the poem The New Collosus, by Emma Lazarus, that is memorialized on the Statue of Liberty and explore the symbolism of both the poem and the song. Suggested Materials Music and lyrics for God Bless America (provided) The poem, The New Collosus by Emma Lazarus (provided) Word Bank (provided) Optional: Recording of God Bless America (audio links can be found at youtube.com/user/bflophilharmonic) New York State Arts Standards 1 Creating, Performing, and Participating in the Arts 3 Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art 4 Understanding the Cultural Contributions of the Arts New York State Social Studies Standards 1 History of the United States and New York 5 Civics, Citizenship, and Government Common Core Learning Standards for ELA & Literacy Reading, CCR 1, 2 and 6 Writing, CCR 4 and 9 Speaking & Listening, CCR 1, 2, and 3 Language, CCR 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Procedure 1) Play and/or sing the main chorus of the American patriotic song, God Bless America written by songwriter Irving Berlin. 2) This song is considered a patriotic song. Discuss with students what the function of a patriotic song could be. When do we sing patriotic songs? Why do you think we sing them? How do they make you feel? 3) Share some information about the song: It was written during World War I in 1918 and then revised into the version we know today just before World War II began in The title and main lyric of this song, God Bless America, came from a phrase that Irving Berlin s mother used to say expressing how thankful she was that she was able to escape to America from the violence in her home country of Siberia. This is an important theme in the history of our country the United States has served as a safe place for people from around the world to escape from dangerous and oppressive situations.

2 Lesson 1 God Bless America (continued) 4) A poem that embodies this same theme is The New Collosus by Emma Lazarus. Ask students to read it (alone and/or recite as a group) and then work together on the following questions/prompts: a) Identify any unfamiliar words and write them down. Using context from the poem, discover the meanings of these words as a class. b) This poem was written by a poet named Emma Lazarus to commemorate the gift of the Statue of Liberty from France to the United States. The poem is now printed on a plaque placed at its base. What is the main theme of the poem? What words or phrases stand out the most? How does the poem make you feel? c) If you set this poem to music, what would the music sound like? You can use the Word Bank provided for inspiration. What instruments would you choose? What tempo, dynamics or tonality might you choose? 5) Both the poem and the song were written by immigrants to the United States and they express a powerful vision of this country. The two will be combined at the BPO concert in an arrangement by Bruce Healey that opens with a dramatic reading of The New Collosus and culminates in the singing of God Bless America. 6) Practice singing the song with students so that they will be comfortable singing along with the BPO at the concert! Together, we will sing the main chorus. Lesson Extension Expand #4c and ask students to follow through on composing music that could accompany a dramatic reading of The New Colossus. Using the Word Bank for inspiration, ask students to identify the tempo, dynamics and tonality of their music. They can utilize classroom instruments or a computer program to create their music. Try beatlab.com or incredibox.com for free sound-mixing software. Ask students to share their composition along with a dramatic reading of The New Collosus for the class.

3 God Bless America Music and Words by Irving Berlin Arranged by Bruce Healey 6 God Bless A - mer - i-ca, land that I love. Stand be - side her and 10 guide her thru the night with a light from a - bove. From the moun -tains, to the 15 prai -ries, to the o -ceans white with foam. God Bless A - mer -i -ca, my home sweet home. God Bless A - mer -i-ca, my home sweet home. Copyright 1938, 1939 by Irving Berlin Renewed 1965, 1966 by Irving Berlin Copyright assigned to Trustees of God Bless America Fund

4 The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus, American poet, 1883 Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name MOTHER OF EXILES. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp! cries she With silent lips. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

5 WORKSHEET Name Add your own words to this list