Seasonal Music
Happy Halloween!
Everyone loves Spooky Walk. Click here to enjoy this music at home.
5 Little Pumpkins: Click here
Election Day/ Veterans Day
UNITED STATES NATIONAL ANTHEM: On September 13,1813, Francis Scott Key wrote a poem that became our national anthem after seeing a tattered flag over Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland after a battle. How many patriotic songs can you name?
Did you know there was a huge debate in Congress to decide if our national anthem should be the Star Spangled Banner or America the Beautiful?
In 1861 during the Civil War Americans wanted a national anthem for our country. The Star Spangled Banner was very popular but was very difficult to sing, so the search was on for a different song. A contest was held for someone to write a national anthem. One judge said, "Any truly patriotic national hymn is, of necessity, the great peace song and the great war song of the nation. It fits every emotion....It is the national heartbeat set to music."
Congress was not pleased with any of the songs submitted in the contest. (Katharine Lee Bates was only a baby at this time. She didn't write America The Beautiful yet.) The Star Spangled Banner had become very popular. In 1912 the first set of bills were presented to make this song our national anthem.
Katharine Lee Bates wrote America the Beautiful in 1893. Americans loved this song and sang it often. One criticism about the Star Spangled Banner was that is is difficult to sing.
For 2 decades Congress debated whether or not our national anthem should be America the Beautiful. This debate became a topic of conversation among Americans voicing either opinions about which song they liked better. Obviously, in the end, the Star Spangled Banner was chosen.
Listen to these recordings. Which song would you vote for?
The Star Spangled Banner: To listen click here
America the Beautiful: To listen click here
Happy Thanksgiving! Did you know that "Over The River and Through the Wood" is a Thanksgiving song?
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Listen for the words in the song that tells you it's a Thanksgiving song. Click here
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Gallop around the room to the beat of the song.
Hanukkah!
Dreidel Song Click here Notice that the underlined syllable below are on the beat.
I have
Dreidel Song Click here Notice that the underlined syllable below are on the beat.
I have a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. __
And when it's dry and ready, __ then dreidel I shall play. __
Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, __ I made it out of clay. __
Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, __ now dreidel I shall play. __
Acappella version of Dreidel song: Watch a dreidel game and while 4 men sing melody, harmony, bass, and beat box.
a little dreidel. I made it out of clay. __
And when it's dry and ready, __ then dreidel I shall play. __
Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, __ I made it out of clay. __
Oh, dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, __ now dreidel I shall play. __
Acappella version of Dreidel song: Watch a dreidel game and while 4 men sing melody, harmony, bass, and beat box.
Merry Christmas!
For parents: Twas the Night Before Christmas: Keith Lockhart talks about performing this poem with the Boston Pops and Jan Brett's illustrations. Click here.
For students: Twas the Night Before Christmas: Janet Wu narrates as the Boston Pops accompanies music written for this poem.
1. Go to the library and check out Twas the Night Before Christmas illustrated by Jan Brett
2. Play this link and read the book as you listen.
Do the illustrations help you to see what's coming next?
How does the music help tell the story? Are there special effects that show the actions of the story? Does the tempo change throughout the story? Why did the composer do that?
Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson: Click here
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Can you guess what instruments make the clip clop sound of the horse's hooves, the whip, the horse whinnie?
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Notice that there are 2 themes. Can you notice when they repeat.
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Listen for the jazzy A theme section.
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Here's another recording with John Williams conducting the Boston Pops. How many instruments can you name?
My First Chinese New Year book with rhythmic chant.