San Diego Symphony Young People's Concerts America, America! February 21 and 24, 2017 Jacobs Music Center/Copley Symphony Hall
String Family - Violins
String Family - Violas
String Family - Cellos Photo credit: Beth Buckley
String Family - Basses
Woodwind Family Flute, Piccolo and Clarinet
Woodwind Family Oboe, English Horn and Bassoon
Brass Family - Trumpets
Brass Family French Horns
Brass Family - Trombones
Percussion Family
Percussion Family - Harp and Celeste
The Orchestra
Meet Conductor Sameer Patel! What does a conductor do? Chooses the music Studies the music - knows every part Rehearses the musicians... shows them the beat, tempo and dynamics Performs the music with the orchestra in front of an audience
Meet Composer Charles Ives Born in Danbury, Connecticut nine years after the Civil War ended Enjoyed playing sports as a young man Studied music composition at Yale University Made his living in selling insurance Created music that he liked, not to please anyone else
America (My Country Tis of Thee) Listen to the original tune: My Country tis of thee Sweet land of liberty Of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died Land of the pilgrims pride From every mountainside Let freedom ring! Click once below to hear America (My Country Tis of Thee)
Variations of a Sea Shell
What Should I Listen For? Variations on America Click once below to hear Variations on America
Meet Composer Mason Bates 1977 - Was born in Richmond, Virginia Graduated from the Columbia University-Juilliard School Exchange Program, with a BA in music composition and English literature Is also a DJ of Electronic Dance Music Has worked closely with the San Francisco Symphony and the Kennedy Center for the Arts
Score for Warehouse Medicine The part for electronica is scored in the middle under the percussion.
What Should I Listen For? Warehouse Medicine for Orchestra and Electronica Sforzando: Literally suddenly with force. These bursts of sound give the piece its mysterious and industrial-sounding character; they give a wawa effect. Electronica: Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. It might be difficult to tell the difference between the brass instruments playing sforzando and the electronic music Beat: The regular pulse in music. In this piece, it s played by the electronic instruments (the laptop) and gives the rhythmic foundation for the music. Form: This piece is written in a traditional ABA form where the first and last sections are similar with a contrasting section in the middle. Listen for a strong, steady beat in the A section. The B section features the trumpet and oboe playing a smooth, flowing melody without a strong beat.
Meet Composer Edwin Eugene Bagley 1857-1922 Was born in Craftsbury, Vermont His older brother Ezra grew up to be the principal trumpet player for the Boston Symphony Orchestra Is best known for composing marches
Meet Composer John Philip Sousa 1854-1932 Known as The March King Born in Washington, DC and lived there for most of his life There were 10 children in his family When he was 13, he tried to run away to join a circus band Sousa studied an impressive variety of instruments- violin, piano, flute, cornet, trombone, alto horn, baritone and voice.
What Should I Listen For? National Emblem and The Thunderer marches) The feeling of 2 beats to a measure. Tap hands lightly on knees, march in place or go outside and march in time to the music! Then try your hand at conducting in two using a chopstick, pencil or real conducting baton if you have one. Brass, woodwind and percussion families (bands don t usually have strings). Click once below to hear the National Emblem march. Click once below to hear The Thunderer march.
Meet Composer Scott Joplin 1868-1917 Was born right around the time that the American Civil War was ending Came from a musical family and grew up in Texarkana In addition to playing the piano, he also played mandoline and guitar Known as The King of Ragtime
What Should I Listen For? Maple Leaf Rag In the piano version: (played by Mr. Joplin himself) Just one instrument Low notes and steady beat that resembles a march Ragged or syncopated rhythms in the higher notes Sound-recording methods were a new technology. May sound a little fuzzy. Click once here to listen to the piano version. In the orchestrated version: Many instruments can you recognize them? Sound-recording technology is more advanced. Sounds more clear. Click once here to listen to the orchestrated version.
Meet Composer Arturo Marquez 1950 - Born in Álamos, Sonora, Mexco Is the oldest of nine children His father was a mariachi musician Attended the Mexican Music Conservatory where he studied piano, music theory and composition Also studied music composition in the United States
What Should I Listen For? Latin percussion instruments Change in tempo from fast to slow and back to fast Conga rhythm Double-click here to listen to Conga del Fuego
Question and Answer Time!