T h e Los A L A m os N AT i o N A L B A N k PoPejoy Schooltime SerieS T e Ac h i N g g u i d e D c EE Tm H SR A RA C

Presented by danúFriday, december 9, 2016

Grad

es: 3

- 12

Dreamcatchers Teaching Guides align with the Common Core State Standards and New Mexico State Learning Standards.

A Christmas Gathering (Féile na Nollag)

Danú

IntroductIonWith a fun, fresh, and exciting approach, Danú has shared traditional Irish culture

and music with the world for over two decades. They have delighted audiences

with their virtuosic flute, tin whistle, fiddle, and button accordion playing, as well

as stunning vocals in both Irish and English. In this special Christmas concert,

Danú offers a taste of centuries-old Irish Christmas traditions, such as gathering

to share in music, dance, and storytelling. On Wren’s Day (Dec. 26), in particular,

local community choirs gather to sing traditional songs. Danú celebrates these

and many other customs in Féile na Nollag (A Christmas Gathering).

Music can change the world because it can change people.” - bONO‘‘

Standards Addressed By Attending the Performance

Nmccss

New mexico content

standards: Fine Arts/Theater & Music:

Standards 2, 3, 4, 6, 8

Language Arts: Standard 1

Social Studies: Geography Standard 2

Danú - A Christmas Gathering (Féile Na Nollag) teaching guide dreAmcAtcherS 2

Danú - A Christmas Gathering (Féile na Nollag) Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 3

the Irish christmas SeasonIreland’s many Christmas traditions are celebrated throughout the month of December and into early January. Many of these customs originate from the Gaelic culture that once dominated Ireland, while others began in the 16th century during the implementation of English Penal Laws that were designed to erase Irish culture and the Catholic faith. During this period, Irish Catholics (and some Protestant dissenters) were stripped of legal and religious rights. The last of these laws remained on the books until 1920.

Ireland’s Christmas season begins with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. Nearly every school in Ireland closes for the day and many people do not return to work until after the New Year. December 8 also marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, much like black Friday in the United States.

Many Irish Christmas traditions take place

on Christmas Eve. While American families customarily leave milk and cookies for Santa, Irish families leave a mince pie and a pint of Guinness. Irish families also place candles in their windowsills to symbolize welcoming Mary and Joseph on their search for shelter. The candles are typically lit by the youngest member of a family, and only a woman named Mary can extinguish them. During the period when the Penal Laws were strictly enforced, the candles in the window signaled that the family’s home was a safe place for Catholic priests to hold Mass. After the evening meal, families place loaves of soda bread (made with caraway seeds and raisins), pitchers of milk, and more lit candles on the table, leaving the front door unlatched so that Mary and Joseph, or other travelers, can refresh themselves with the offering.

The practice of decorating with holly at Christmastime began in Ireland, where the plant grows plentifully. Irish families hang a holly wreath on their doors for an inexpensive and festive decoration that

stays up until Little Christmas (the feast of the Epiphany) on January 6. Taking holly decorations down early supposedly brings bad luck, but finding holly bushes full of berries foretells good luck for the coming year.

As a relatively new custom, the Christmas tree does not hold as much significance in Ireland as in the USA. On Christmas morning, Irish children wake up to a sack of presents at the foot of their bed. Larger gifts are placed unwrapped under the tree.

In the days after Christmas, both professional and amateur actors perform pantomimes or pantos, humorous productions of popular fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. Men and women often play roles of a different gender, except the heroines, who are always played by women. The productions integrate commentary on popular culture into the story, often poking fun at celebrities and politicians. To add to the fun, the audience is encouraged to join in with the singing and dancing.

Danú - A Christmas Gathering (Féile na Nollag) Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 4

Vocabularya cappella – singing without any musical accompaniment

ballad – a simple song of sentimental or romantic character; a simple narrative poem of folk origin

ceilidh – a Gaelic party with music, dancing, and storytelling; “Célídh” in Irish

Celtic – a branch of European languages that includes Irish, Scots Gaelic, Welsh and breton, which are spoken in Ireland, the Scottish Highlands, Wales, and brittany

clarsach – a traditional name for the Celtic harp

Gaelic - a Celtic language that originated in ancient Ireland and includes dialects such as Irish, Manx, and Scots Gaelic

hornpipe – a folk clarinet with one ox horn concealing the reed and another forming the bell; lively jig-like dance, originally to music played on a hornpipe, performed usually by one person and traditionally a favorite of sailors

jig – a rapid, lively, irregular dance for one or more persons, usually in triple meter

polka – a lively couples dance of bohemian origin, with music in double meter

reel – a lively Scottish dance

Irish musical Instruments The Irish harp or Celtic harp has a 1,000- year history. Celtic harps are smaller than modern models, about 4 feet high, and are laced with 34 strings. The Neo-Irish harp, strung with gut or nylon, is the most popular. Its tone is soft, like water dripping into a crystal bowl. The sound of the Irish harp is quite distinctive when compared to the loud, bell-like tones of the wire-strung harp.

The bagpipe is made up of a leather inflatable bag that the musician inflates by blowing into a pipe. The musician holds the inflated bag underneath his or her arm and presses the bag with their elbow to force air through several reeded pipes. bagpipes were played mostly to provide marching music for the

military. In Ireland, these military pipes were gradually supplanted by the Uilleann (pronounced “illyun”) pipes, which were invented sometime in the 16th century.

Most fiddles are strung with steel, instead of the traditional gut or nylon used to make violins. The fiddle was first added to Irish music in the 17th century, and has remained a popular fixture ever since.

Since the 18th Century, the high and shrill notes of the tin whistle are another familiar sound in traditional Irish music. The whistle produces both lively and melancholy tunes depending on the song. Most tin whistles, or “penny whistles,” are metal cylinders, sometimes tapered, with a mouthpiece and six holes or “stops.”

Flutes have been fashioned in different materials and designs for centuries. Irish musicians tend to prefer older style wooden flutes with six open finger holes, as they feel it gives a tone more appropriate to their style of music.

The bodhrán (pronounced bow-rahn) is a kind of percussion instrument known as a “frame drum,” meaning that it’s width is greater than its depth. The highest quality frame drums are made from a sheet of treated goatskin stretched over a wooden frame. A decorative design is often painted on the drumhead.

Another percussion instrument used in Irish music is the “bones.” These are typically pieces of wood or bone (sheep ribs are often used), which are held between the fingers and tapped together. Spoons are sometimes used instead.

The concertina was a popular instrument in the 19th century. It sometimes accompanied an orchestra, but quickly became a folk music instrument. The concertina and its cousin the accordion are often used in Irish folk music.

Danú - A Christmas Gathering (Féile na Nollag) Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 5

the Goddess danú The band was named after Danú, the earth-mother

goddess in the ancient Celtic religion. Legend has

it that her followers, the Tuatha de Danaan or the

children of Danú, retreated into the hollow hills when

Christianity began to take root in Ireland. Eventually,

they became the Sidhe, or the fairy folk. Now, Danú is

known as the goddess of the fairy folk, although this

was not one of her original attributes.

Danú is purported to be the mother of many other

Celtic gods, and she was worshipped throughout Celtic

Europe. Many major rivers throughout northern and

central Europe and Western Asia have variations of

her name, including: Danube (river in Central Europe),

Dniestr (river in Central and Eastern Europe), Dniepr

(river in Eastern Europe, which flows from Russia to the

black Sea), and Don (one of the major rivers in Russia).

Danú may also be linked to the Hindu goddess, Danu,

who is said to embody rivers and other ancient bodies

of water.

Fun Facts for StudentsThe Gaelic greeting for ‘Merry Christmas’ is ‘Nollaig

Shona Duit’, which is pronounced ‘null-ig hun-a dit.’

Irish women bake a seed cake for each person in the

house. They also make three puddings, one for each

day of the Epiphany: Christmas Day, New Year’s Day,

and the Twelfth Night.

December 26 (St. Stephen’s day) is the day of the

Wren Boys Procession in which local boys carry

a fake wren on a stick from door to door asking

for money. The boys sing, accompanied by violins,

accordions, harmonicas and horns, asking for a

donation ‘for the starving wren,’ that is, for their own

pockets.

Long ago, farm families cleaned and then

whitewashed every building on the farm in December.

They were covered in white paint or lime wash, to

symbolically purify them for the coming of the

savior. The tradition goes back thousands of

years, not just in Celtic cultures, but in central

European cultures as well.

Ancient Celts believed that mistletoe had

tremendous healing powers. Irish Christians,

however, saw it as a symbol of paganism, and

banned it until the “revival of Christmas” in the

Victorian era.

Danu statue by Maxine Miller. maxinemillerstudios.com

Danú - A Christmas Gathering (Féile na Nollag) Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 6

Objectives

Materials • empty oatmeal containers• a box cutter• pictures of bodhrán drums• paint, markers, crayons, etc. • fabric or card stock paper for the head of the drum • construction paper

• beads, sequins, decorations, etc. • scissors • glue• ribbon or twine• rubber bands (thick)• songs performed by Danú

Procedure 1. Ask students to bring empty oatmeal containers from home. Very carefully use a box cutter to cut 2 or 3 2-inch rings from the oatmeal container. (NOTE: An adult should do this ahead of time. Do not allow students to use the box cutters themselves!) Paint the rings with a neutral color as a base.

2. Find pictures of bodhráns with Celtic decorations on them (a Google image search will bring up many examples). Share these with your students.

3. Have students use books or the Internet to find various kinds of Celtic symbols and designs for their drums. Students can decide if they would rather use simple designs or more complex designs. Encourage students to pick designs that they will be able to replicate or easily trace.

4. With paints or markers students will decorate a piece of fabric or card stock paper with their chosen design. Make sure that the fabric or paper is cut to be just larger than the diameter of the ring from the oatmeal container.

5. Use the rings from the oatmeal container as the base for the drum. Have students decorate the exterior with paints, construction paper, and markers.

6. Create the top of the drum by stretching the piece of fabric across the top of the ring or centering the card stock paper and folding down the edges. Use glue and a thick rubber band to hold the drumhead tightly in place. Trim any excess material below the rubber band.

7. Cover the rubber band by tying twine or string around the outside

of the drum and secure with glue. Have the students continue decorating the finished drum as desired. Use chopsticks or pencils as drum mallets and allow students to experiment with playing their unique drums.

8. Listen to Danú while making the drums. An Internet search for “Irish folk music” will bring up many other examples. Have students listen to the drumbeat in the songs and play along on their own drums.

9. Form a drum circle, where everyone plays his or her drum in collaboration. Students do not need to all play the same beat, but whatever they choose to play must complement what the other students are playing. You may want to play music to help guide the rhythms. Experiment with ways that the class can make interesting rhythms together.

• Research other instruments associated with traditional Irish folk music. If possible bring a few penny whistles or a fiddle into class. Allow the class to experiment playing these instruments. See if you can identify the sounds of the instruments in the examples of Irish folk music you find.• Older students may research the symbols they chose to decorate their drums. Students may give a short presenta-tion on the meanings behind their decorations and why they were chosen. If time permits, students may look into the background of color symbolism, procurement, and application.

Extensions/Modifications

Assessment

• Students will learn about the bodhrán drum as an instrument specific to Irish music. • Students will create their own bodhrán drums.

• Quality of participation

make a Bodhrán drum lesson 1

Grades 3 - 8 New mexico

content standards:

Fine Arts/music & Visual: standards

1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8

Danú - A Christmas Gathering (Féile na Nollag) Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 7

Grades 3 - 12Nmccss

New mexico content

standards: Language Arts:

Standard 1, Content Standards 1, 3

Fine Arts/music & dance Standards 2, 3, 4, 6, 8

objectives

materials • CD player or a computer with speakers

• Irish music – preferably upbeat

• Internet (optional – to watch the dance steps)• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfsMuAZP_wQ&feature=related

Procedure • Play examples of Irish music for the class. Songs from the show can be played at http://www.baylinartists.com/artist/danu/tours/64/. Ask students if they can think of any examples of Irish music or dance (Riverdance, The Chieftains, Enya, etc.) Tell them they will be learning a type of Irish step dance in preparation for the performance. It may be helpful to find examples of Irish jig dancers online to show students if they have no familiarity with Irish dancing.• Note: This is just one Irish dance step. In Irish Step Dancing there are a few set dances (the blackbird, St. Patrick’s Day) that are the same whether you are in Ireland or America. Other dances (all that are not set dances) including the jig, are different depending on your teacher. This is one example.• Have students stand in a circle at

first to learn the dance. • begin with your right foot forward, pointing your toe, left foot turned out. • Right foot back to the left, jumping on to your toes. • Stay on your toes. • Kick your right foot out and back, then step left, step right, step left. • Try it three times in a row at a slow pace, striving to keep your right foot forward, toes pointed, and feet turned out. • Jump, Kick, Hop back, 2, 3, 4. • Jump, Kick, Hop back, 2, 3, 4. • Jump, Kick, Hop back, 2, 3, 4. • Now add a second sequence. • Kick your right foot out.• Hop back with your right foot. • Hop back with your left foot.• Step right. Step left. Step right.• Put this sequence all together at

a slow pace, with your right foot forward, toes pointed, feet turned out. • Jump, kick, hop back, 2, 3, 4.• Jump, kick, hop back, 2, 3, 4. • Jump, kick, hop back, 2, 3, 4.• 6. Now try both sequences together from the beginning. Run through it several times.• Once your group is comfortable with the combination, speed it up! Turn up the music and have fun! At the end, point your toe again and take a bow!• Perform your Irish dance for an audience or in groups for the rest of the class.

extensions/modifications

Assessment

• Students will follow a set of specific instructions.

• Students will demonstrate physical expression through dance.

• Research other kinds of Irish dances and search for instructions on how to do them. Put on a performance of Irish dances for an audience.

• Quality of participation

Irish Step dancing lesson 2

Danú - A Christmas Gathering (Féile na Nollag) Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 8

Questions to engage & connectAfter seeing the show, ask

your students to answer the following questions.

How is Irish Christmas music different/similar to

American Christmas music?

Why are Irish musical instruments different

from typical American instruments?

How would you describe the sound of Irish Christmas music?

How does the music make you feel?

What is your favorite instrument? Why?

Do you play any instruments? If yes, what

influenced you to play that instrument?

What was your favorite Irish song?

“before seeing this show, I didn’t know….”

“The show made me think about...”

Bonus explorations Make a Christmas Candle!

There are many different ways to make Christmas candles. Use the Internet to find instructions that suit your classroom. Milk carton or baby food jars work! Have the students decorate the jars. Consider making candles for each of the major religious holidays that occur at this time. To add a New Mexican treat, add milagros or candle charms during the preparation as a surprise gift for after the candle is gone.

Carol of the Birds

In Ireland, the tradition of singing Christmas carols is still widely practiced. Many of the Christmas carols that we sing here in the USA are also sung in Ireland. Some Christmas carols are unique to their traditions. Try Carol of the birds. A version by Joan baez with the lyrics are available at play.google.com/music. For six other options go to http://www.fantasy-ireland.com/irish-christmas-carols.html#axzz4Dr3huhwg. After a few rounds, have the students attempt to sing a capella (or without music)!

Getting to Know Irish Pop

Research and listen to contemporary Irish musicians and compare their music. Some examples of contemporary Irish musicians are bono/ U2, Shane MacGowan, Sinead O’Conner, Van Morrison, and Enya. What were the influences on their music? Share your findings and the music with the class.

Trace the History of the Irish Language

Have the students trace the lineage of the Gaelic Language to see how it developed. Using poster board or a computer and overhead for charts found on the Internet. Display a Gaelic Language/Family Heritage diagram. Like families, many languages are

related and can be traced in how they have developed and spread. Note how and where the languages split from English to Gaelic. Then trace the lineage of another language. Encourage them to research some of the etymology of some common words.

resourcesBooks

Sarah blazek and James Rice. Irish Night Before Christmas. Pelican Publishing. 1995.

David Marcus. Irish Christmas Stories II. bloomsbury Publishing. 1992.

Websites

Irish Central Explore the top ten Irish Christmas traditions.

Santas.net Find out how other countries celebrate.

Videos

Youtube Learn an Irish Jig!

Riverdance Experience the beautiful combination of Irish song and dance.

About the companyDanú loves spreading the beautiful music and culture of their native Ireland to the world through their memorable and breathtaking concerts. They have gathered dozens of awards over the years, hundreds of five-star live and album reviews, and performed on over a thousand stages. In addition, Danú performed at the launch of Ireland’s European Union presidency ceremony in brussels in 2004, as well as in India as part of the Irish government’s trade delegation in January 2005.

Danú continues to tour and captivate fans from around the world!

SchooltimeSER IES

POPEJOY••••••••••••

About the Schooltime SeriesThe Los Alamos National bank Popejoy Schooltime Series brings you national and international touring companies and performers you can’t see anywhere else in or around Albuquerque. Each touring company is selected with youth and family audiences in mind, and our repertoire reflects the cultural diversity of our global community. The Schooltime Series includes new plays, familiar stories, literary works, biographies, mythologies, folk tales, music, dance, and puppetry. These professional performing artists create educational experiences designed to encourage literacy, creativity, communication, and imagination.

Send an email with your name and email address to schooltime@popejoypresents.com requesting to be added to the mailing and monthly newsletter list. Visit us at schooltimeseries.com and facebook.com/schooltimeseries.

Popejoy hallPopejoy Hall is New Mexico’s premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. Our mission is to provide access to the performing arts for all New Mexicans.

etiquetteThe inside of a theatre is called a “house” and to get along, have fun, and enjoy the shows, there are rules to follow. Schooltime provides a wonderful opportunity to learn how good behavior in a live theater is different from watching television at home. For guidelines to practice with your class and chaperones go to schooltimeseries.com/house-policies.

house PoliciesPlease visit our website for detailed information about House Policies. This includes our guidelines on safety, special needs, food and drink, backpacks, cell phones, photography, recordings, and more.

credits Dreamcatchers are Teaching Guides produced by the Education Department of Popejoy Hall, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Selected Dreamcatchers Teaching Guide materials provided by Danú, Baylin Arts Management, World Music, and ireland-fun-facts.com/irish-christmas-facts.html, dictionary.com, and other resources noted within this guide.

the university of new mexicoThe Los Alamos National bank Popejoy Schooltime Series is a program of The University of New Mexico.

the Schooltime Series is a proud member of

the lanB Popejoy Schooltime Series is supported in part by

awards from:

The Eugene and Marion Castiglia Popejoy Children’s

Schooltime Endowment

The Popejoy Schooltime Education Endowment