outhful Young People's Concert - Virginia Symphony Orchestra

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Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart What you’ll hear at the concert: The Marriage of Figaro Violin Concerto No. 5, Movt. I Young People's Concert Born in born in Salzburg, Austria (1756-1791) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the 1700’s classical equivalent (equal) to a child rock star. Even YOU are familiar with some of his works. Do you know the melody to “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” Can you guess who wrote it Yes. Mozart. He was a prolific composer. What does that mean It means that he wrote tons of music- over 600 works! And if that isn’t astonishing enough, read on. He was composing his first pieces of music by the age of FIVE! He composed his first symphony right before his ninth birthday and an opera at twelve. Mozart was a music prodigy- a child genius. He could play the harpsichord (a piano-like instrument), organ and violin. But music wasn’t the only thing he was talented in. He could speak fifteen different languages! It was no wonder, though… for him, at least. By the time he was six, he was touring all over Europe. In the concerto you will hear at the concert, you’ll see and hear our young guest artists solo with the orchestra- only playing the last five minutes of the violin concerto to keep the concert from running over time. A concerto is a piece of music written so that someone can play their instrument as a soloist (by himself) with an orchestra accompanying him. Other Facts: - Mozart learned how to play his instruments and compose from his father, Leopold. - Even though he made playing and composing look easy, it took Mozart a great deal of work to be as good as he was. In fact he once wrote, “I too had to work hard, so as not to have to work hard any longer.” - Mozart could compose anywhere, doing anything… while eating his meals, while chatting with his friends or playing his favorite game- billiards. He loved composing that much! - Wolferl was his pet name as a child. 10 Note This! You will hear something called ornamentation during The Marriage of Figaro. This means you will hear quick little notes that dress up a melody.
Composer: Duke Ellington What you will hear at the concert: Duke Ellington! (A Medley for Orchestra) Born in Washington D.C., USA (1899-1974) Duke Ellington’s birth name was Edward Kennedy Ellington, but he had an elegant style even as a kid. So, one of his classmates who admired him gave Ellington the nickname, “Duke.” It stuck! After an incident when Ellington got hit in the head with a baseball and required stitches, his mother decided that he should take up the piano, instead... a much safer activity. However, he was much more interested in playing baseball (He LOVED baseball. ) than learning the piano. So, he didn’t keep to his piano lessons for very long. It wasn’t until he became a teen that he really got interested in it again. He was invited to go see and hear a ragtime pianist, Harvey Brooks, perform... and he was hooked on piano and jazz after that! What’s jazz Go to the next page to find out. Ellington, taught himself how to play the piano like Harvey Brooks did, learning how to write and arrange music. He began earning money as a piano performer, even formed his own band... and the rest is history! He went on to compose over 2,000 pieces - writing jazz songs, ballets, musicals, film scores and more! For his 70th birthday, President Nixon gave him a party at The White House and honored him by giving him the Presidential Medal of Freedom... a fitting award for a musical career spanning over 50 years based on expressing himself, honor and individuality. Other Facts: - One of Ellington’s first jobs was selling peanuts at a baseball stadium. - Ellington is considered by many to be America’s greatest composer, band leader and recording artist because of his extraordinary development as a musician. He just kept getting better and better and composing more and more music! Note This! If you listen to the music examples online at www.VirginiaSymphony.org, you will hear Sophisticated Lady and It Don’t Mean a Thing. They are featured during the concert, along with the other songs in the “medley.” 11
Page 1 and 2: Benjamin Rous Associate Conductor Y
Page 3 and 4: Welcome and Introduction Dear Teach
Page 5 and 6: Guest Soloists Brendon Elliott Bren
Page 7 and 8: Virginia Symphony Orchestra Roster
Page 9: Composer: Sergei Prokofiev What you
Page 13 and 14: Composer: Students just like you Wh
Page 15 and 16: Composer: John Wiliams What you wil
Page 17 and 18: Maps Match each country’s or stat
Page 19 and 20: For a staff with a treble clef on i
Page 21 and 22: Musical Dice Print out this page on
Page 23 and 24: Anagrams! Anagrams are word puzzles
Page 25 and 26: The 2/4 or 2/2 pattern: These are t
Page 27 and 28: Vocabulary ballet - A ballet is a s
Page 29: Teacher Evaluation 2011-2012 Season

outhful Young People's Concert - Virginia Symphony Orchestra

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