Overview
Question 1:
Read: Classical music is alive and well and being created right now. Sometimes classical music is perceived as stuffy or too intellectual to people unfamiliar with the genre; sometimes it does take a little bit of research to understand the music.
The operatic example by George Gershwin is the first major commercial opera written about the lives of black people (completed in 1935); he had a hard time getting it produced because of the subject matter, and because he refused to allow white singers in black face to portray the characters. If you're interested in learning more about opera, Houston Grand Opera will be performing Turandot and Romeo and Juliet this spring, and it's one of the best opera companies in the nation.
The ballet example from Appalachian Spring is a great example of how art forms support each other. Ballet is music and dance combined to tell stories. Copland is considered to have a truly "American" style of writing music; it doesn't sound anything like the music being written in Europe at the time (1944). Houston Ballet is a great ballet company; I would recommend seeing one of their productions.
The choral example by the Houston Chamber Choir (I'm in the video!) is by living composer Frank Ticheli. This is the poem that he set to music:
Sing, Be, Live, See. This dark stormy hour, The wind, it stirs. The scorched earth Cries out in vain: O war and power, You blind and blur, The torn heart Cries out in pain. But music and singing Have been my refuge, And music and singing Shall be my light. A lightof song Shining Strong: Allelulia! Through darkness, pain, and strife, I'll Sing, Be, Live, See... Peace.
The instrumental example is by HCC professor (and my office-mate) Dr. Joel Love. He writes for many different instruments, but has become well-known for his excellent writing for Saxophone.
Watch the following videos:
Opera - George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess - My Man's Gone Now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSlrAasnBxoLinks to an external site.
Ballet - Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmgaKGSxQVwLinks to an external site.
Choral - Frank Ticheli's Earth Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bB3MVjvg9sLinks to an external site.
Instrumental - Joel Love's In Memoriam, Adieu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3vWHaUJfsILinks to an external site.
Answer
Is classical music growing and changing as rapidly as popular music? Which of these four pieces is the most innovative?
Question 2:
Watch these videos:
https://youtu.be/p2nc9Va1-PILinks to an external site.
https://youtu.be/20G0PJ4osuULinks to an external site.
Answer these questions:
Is there anything in these videos that was really exciting to learn? What do you still have questions about?