Twelfth Night teacher's guide - California Shakespeare Theater

THE HOUSE BAND:
Music in Twelfth Night
“Conceal me what I am, and be my aid.”
-Viola, Act 1, Scene 2
Everyone has a playlist of favorite songs, in their head, in their mp3 player, in their
memories. Chances are that if you think of someone you are close to, you will think
of music they like, that you listen to together, or that reminds you of them. Couples
have “their song,” a lullaby you remember from childhood can still put you to
sleep, or a song on the radio reminds you of that certain party. Just listen to adults
reminisce about their favorite music sometime; you’ll get a lot of interesting stories!
Twelfth Night is the only one of Shakespeare’s plays that begins and ends with
music. In the Cal Shakes production you will hear music throughout the play, almost as another character in
itself. The music serves to heighten the moods of the characters, and express their views of the world. Three
simple examples are Orsino’s indulgence in sad music as he longs for Olivia, the noisy drunken singing of the
partygoers Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, and Feste’s odd songs of death and coldness.
Try This:
Explorations of Character through Contemporary Music
Music: Pop Song Playlist
Pick five songs that you think would be a
good musical background for the play, as if
you were making a music score for a film.
Think of the moods of the play and how to
convey them through modern music.
Music Video
If you have a video camera or even a cell
phone that takes video, you can create a
music video. Pick a song that illustrates a
problem a character has. For instance, Viola
has a secret love.
Lyric writing
Take a popular song you know that’s current
today. It could be hip-hop, a ballad, a rocker,
anything that you like. Write down all the
actual lyrics to the song. Now replace those
lyrics with your own expressing your favorite
character’s point of view. Perform your new lyrics
along with the music for the class.
Music writing
If you play an instrument, sit down with it for
a few minutes and see if you can make some
music that might be a “theme song” for one of
the characters in the play. What would Olivia’s
music sound like? Slow or fast? Major or minor?
Would it change from one to another? When
and why?
See also, the lesson plans relating to music in
Twelfth Night at: www.folger.edu/education:
“Lose the Lute” and “Twelfth Night—the Musical”
PAGE 16