NOWER HILL HIGH SCHOOL

In this project you will learn more about pitch and how to compose melodies on Sibelius. At the same time you will learn about Variation Form in music and compose your own set of variations.

Name the 5 notes on the linesName the 4 notes in the spaces

TASK:

Now you will learn how to put these notes onto the staves in Sibelius. You will need to put them on the correct line or space.

1. Open up Sibelius, select a new score

2. Select Blank

3. Next

4. “You currently have a score with no instruments. Do you wish to create instruments now?”

5. Yes

6. Choose Orchestral Instruments - strings - violin.

7. Click Add to Score

8. House Style – leave as unchanged

9. Key Signature – change to G major

10. Time signature – 4/4

11.Title – Frere Jacques; Composer/Songwriter – your names

12. Create

Now copy this melody exactly. Use the different notes from the keypad and click in the note in the correct position on the stave.

Remember, you can copy and paste bars (R) – some of them are the same.

Quavers join together automatically.

You can now listen to the music that you have just written.

Press the PLAY icon on the Playback toolbar and the music will play.

You can also just press ‘p’ on the computer.

At this point is it useful to learn how to input DYNAMICS.

What does DYNAMICS mean? _______________________________________________________

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COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TABLE:

SYMBOL

ITALIAN NAME

MEANING

pianissimo

piano

mezzo forte

forte

fortissimo

crescendo

decrescendo/diminuendo

Adding DYNAMICS to your music is very easy. You will add the SYMBOL from above to the music, and when you press ‘play’ the computer will perform the dynamics you have selected.

To add the letters (e.g. pp, p, f etc) press ‘cmd + E’ on the computer keyboard. The cursor will turn BLUE. Click under the note where you wish the dynamic to be, then type in the appropriate symbol or press ‘ctrl’ and click the mouse. This will display a list of options for you to choose from. Avoid extremes in dynamics such as fff.

To add the Crescendo marking press ‘L’ and choose from the list given. The mouse will then turn BLUE, click under the note you would like the crescendo to start and then drag the line for as long as you want it to be.

To add the Diminuendo do the same as above. Drag the diminuendo line for as long as you want it to be.

Add dynamics to the piece of music – remember not to overdo them, a careful and thoughtful approach is important!

* REMEMBER TO SAVE YOUR WORK IN YOUR FOLDER *

LISTEN to an extract of Symphony No.1, 3rd Movement by Gustav Mahler

This piece is based upon the folk tune Frere Jacques, the piece you have been developing in Sibelius. The main theme is played on a number of instruments during the beginning of the movement. Each instrument continues the tune in a ROUND.

Write down the order that the instruments come in during the extract.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

TASK:

Write a short paragraph about the composer GUSTAV MAHLER. Include his dates, birthplace, types of music he composed etc.

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It is easy to create a similar piece of music using Sibelius.

Press ‘I’ on the computer keyboard, and the instruments window will open up.

Select viola and click Add To Score, and then click OK.

Triple click on the first bar of your violin part until the entire violin stave is highlighted BLUE.

Then press ‘CTRL + C’ on the keyboard

Click on the THIRD bar of the viola part, and then press ‘CTRL + V’. It should look like the following:

Notice the clef at the beginning of the VIOLA part

The arrow points to an ALTO clef; this is the clef that Violas use.

Now we have the basis of a piece of music, but we need to add to it. This is where the VARIATIONS come in.

We now need to vary the main tune to extend the piece.

HOW CAN WE DO THIS?

Explain how the following versions of Frere Jacques have been changed

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You will now be played a set of variations. Listen to how they have been varied to the original. A composer called Paganini wrote them and the piece is called 24 Caprices.

Your task is to arrange the Frere Jacques melody into a piece of music. You can use any of the ideas that we have discussed, as well as your own. Remember to add dynamics to your performance, do this to each instrument separately.

The following points may give you some more ideas:

· Add an introduction

· Using instruments from the same family

· The melody in a ROUND

· Use CUT and PASTE between instruments

· Decorate the tune with quavers

· Put the tune an OCTAVE higher or lower

· Use a minor key (change the Bs to Bbs [flats], the Es to Ebs [flats], and the Fs to F#s [sharps])

· Different dynamics

· Use longer notes

· Try to keep it simple to start with, then you can start to make it more complicated

· Add a CODA (ending)

· Add chords to your music – which chords do you think would fit with the tune? (Hint! C Major I, IV and V – think about the Blues and Rock ‘n’ Roll projects).

Think about the structure of the composition. An effective yet simple structure would be –

Solo Melody

Canon

New Variation

REPORT

Write a report on this project including the information below:

· Describe what a variation is

· How can pieces be varied? Give examples

· How did you vary the main theme in your arrangement?

· Did you add dynamics? How did you decide where to put them?

· Did you add chords? If so, which ones did you use?

· Describe the structure of your arrangement – what is happening, and when.

· Was your piece successful?

· What changes would you make if you did the project again.

Variations Through Sibelius Report

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End of Project Level:

Effort:

Choose two performances to evaluate. When writing your evaluation consider the following points: instruments, dynamics, tempo and structure.

Out of all of the performances: which variations were the most successful and why?

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The 5 lines and 4 spaces that music is written on is called a

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This is called a __________________

Bassoon Melody

Cello Melody

Tuba Melody

Oboe Counter Melody (x2)

Timpani Notes

Group 1 Names: _________________________________________________________________

How many times did they vary the original melody?

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How did they vary the original theme?

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Which elements of music did they use and how?

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Was the overall piece successful? If so why, if not why not? Give musical reasons for your answer.

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What level would you give this piece and why?

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Group 2 Names: _________________________________________________________________

How many times did they vary the original melody?

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How did they vary the original theme?

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Which elements of music did they use and how?

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Was the overall piece successful? If so why, if not why not? Give musical reasons for your answer.

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