Percussion II

(bass drum & cymbals)

meets

The Great Composers

We're going to play some of the best music ever written, by the
most famous composers in history!

Join us on a journey through time as we introduce you to some

of the most talented and creative men who ever lived.

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 George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Music for the Royal Fireworks

Some composers were asked to write music to

celebrate a special occasion.
George Handel was a German composer who
lived in London. He was asked by King George
II to write music for a big firework display to
celebrate a military victory.

The music was very popular, with over 12,000

people coming to hear it!

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 Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Ode to Joy

Ode to Joy is by a very famous German

composer called Ludwig van Beethoven.
As well as writing music, Beethoven became very
well-known as a conductor and piano player.

When he was a young man, Beethoven started to

lose his hearing, and by the time he died he was
completely deaf.

Even though he couldn't hear music, he was still

able to compose fantastic symphonies and concertos.

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 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Mozart was a genius, and one of the

greatest musicians who ever lived.
He learned to play the piano when he was just
three years old, and started composing when he
was five. See, you don't have to be a grown-up
to start composing your own tunes!
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 Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Surprise Symphony

The composer Joseph Haydn had a good sense of

humour, and often included little jokes in his
music.
His 'Surprise Symphony' has become very famous.
Most of it is played quietly, with a sudden very loud
chord in the middle. Haydn thought it would make
the ladies in the audience jump out of their seats!

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 Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Minuet
Johann Sebastian Bach was one of the
greatest composers of all time, but when he was
alive people didn't like his music very much.
It wasn't until long after he died that other composers
realised that Bach was a genius. Nowadays his music
is very popular, and is loved by people all around the
world.

Bach wrote this piece for his wife, Anna Magdalena.

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 Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741)
'Spring' from the Four Seasons
Some pieces of music describe things in real life.
There is music which represents different animals, people and places.

Our next tune is by an Italian composer called Vivaldi.

He wrote a piece called the Four Seasons, which makes
you think of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

Close your eyes whilst you listen and see if you can
imagine the blossom, and the sun beginning to shine!
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 Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907)
In the hall of the mountain king
Some composers wrote music which depicts the
landscape of their country.
Edvard Grieg was from Norway. Much of his music
paints a picture of the mountains, forests and
fjords of his homeland - and sometimes evens the
trolls and other magical creatures who live there!

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 Giuseppe VERDI (1813-1901)
La Donna e mobile

Verdi was an Italian composer who is best

known for writing Opera.
An opera is a bit like a play, except the story is told
through music and singing. The singers are also
actors, who dress up in beautiful costumes, and the
stage has scenery to take transport the audience to
far-off lands.

This tune is sung by an Italian Duke who is unlucky

in finding a woman to love.
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 Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (1840-1893)
Dance of the Reed flutes
As well as Opera, many composers wrote music
for the Ballet.
The most famous ballet composer was Tchaikovsky, who came from Russia.
He wrote a ballet called the Nutcracker, which is set on
Christmas Eve. A young girl called Clare is give a
nutcracker as a present. The Nutcracker turns into a
handsome prince, and takes Clara to the Land of Sweets.
The dancers get to dress up as many characters, including
gingerbread soldiers, candy canes, snowflakes, flowers, and
a sugarplum fairy.

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 Edward ELGAR (1857-1934)
Land of Hope and GLory

Sir Edward Elgar was a famous English composer.

He wrote lots of well-known tunes, but his most
popular is called Land of Hope and Glory.

When it is performed, people in the audience

are allowed to sing along, and they wave Union
Jack flags in the air!

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