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A brief, written song introduction for the audience.

Prompt:

US Chorus Assignment Fall 2016

For our concert, you are asked to write a brief introduction for the audience for one of our songs:

GROUP 1

“No Mirrors in My Nana’s House”

by Ysaye M. Barnwell

“Teach Your Children”

by Graham Nash (arr. Philip Lawson)

“No One is Alone”

by Stephen Sondheim (arr. Mark Brymer)

Madrigals: “Tears in Heaven”

by Eric Clapton and Will Jenkins (arr. Kirby Shaw)

GROUP 2

“Bonse Aba” - Traditional Zambian Song

(arr. Andrew Fischer)

“I’ll Tell My Ma” - Traditional Irish Song

(arr. Erik Jones)

Madrigals: “Apamuy Shungo” –

Traditional Ecuadorian Melody (arr. Gerardo Guevara)

Your Assignment

Before you begin, you should look at your sheet music for basic information about the lyrics, accompaniment, tempo, dynamics, number of voice parts, arrangement, etc. Read any notes by the composer or arranger. Then you should do additional research. Recommended resources and a research guide are included.

If you click on the blue tab above, called "Research Guide," you can print the worksheet and fill it out.

Your introduction should include as much of the following as possible:

  • What does this song mean? What are the lyrics of the song about? Are there any lyrics you find particularly interesting or central to the song’s message? CITE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES!
  • What specific musical elements can the audience listen for that help convey the meaning of the song (tonality, tempo, dynamics, genre, style, arrangement, accompaniment, text painting)? CITE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES!
  • Who is the song’s composer and/or lyricist? Is there anything interesting about them or their career? If this is an arrangement of an original song, how does the arrangement compare and contrast to the original? Is there anything you find interesting about the arranger’s career? CITE EVIDENCE!
  • Is this song from a larger work? If so, what is it? How does this selection fit in to that work? CITE EVIDENCE!
  • What does this song make you think of? What does it mean to you? Why? Does it have any personal meaning or history?
  • Were there any particularly noteworthy performances, covers or arrangements of this song? What made them special?
  • Anything else you find to be important.

Your work MUST:

  • be your own, original thoughts and words. If you use someone else’s ideas, you must cite them! (Do not cite Wikipedia or Songfacts.com)
  • include a works cited, with at least THREE sources (your sheet music can be one source).
  • be at least 300 words.
  • be submitted by 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 to Mr. Beja through Schoology as a PDF or Word Document (no Pages documents, please!)

***Your research and quotations from your assignment may be used and cited by our Emcees during the concert***

HAVE QUESTIONS? Email or see Mr. Beja before the deadline.

Online Resources, Song-Specific

GROUP 1

"No Mirrors in My Nana's House" by Ysaye M. Barnwell

"Teach Your Children" by Graham Nash (arr. Philip Lawson)

"No One is Alone" by Stephen Sondheim (arr. Mark Brymer)

Madrigals: "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton and Will Jenkins (arr. Kirby Shaw)

GROUP 2

"Bonse Alba" Traditional Zambian Song (arr. Andrew Fischer)

"I'll Tell My Ma" Traditional Irish Song (arr. Erik Jones)

Madrigals: "Apamuy Shungo" Traditional Ecuadorian Melody (arr. Gerardo Guevara)

Librarian

Profile Photo
Lauren Ledley

Your teacher

Marc Beja

Resources

Some Recommended Resources (This is not an exhaustive list, just a starting place):

For all Songs:

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