A prehistoric suite
Paul jennings - Grade 1
About the music
A Prehistoric Suite (1987) offers unique learning opportunities for beginning instrumentalists. It is a programmatic work that draws on the graphic images that come along with the best known prehistoric animals: dinosaurs. The four movements represent various dinosaurs:
1. Segosaurus (The Gladiator)
2. Brontosaurus (Gentle Giant)
3. Pterodactyls (Graceful Giants of the Sky)
4. The Battle (Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops)
2. Brontosaurus (Gentle Giant)
3. Pterodactyls (Graceful Giants of the Sky)
4. The Battle (Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops)
Tempo & style
1. Majestically (QN=88-92)
2. Ponderous (QN=92-96)
3. Gentle, Flowing (QN=96-100)
4. Dramatically (QN=112-120)
2. Ponderous (QN=92-96)
3. Gentle, Flowing (QN=96-100)
4. Dramatically (QN=112-120)
Ranges
Flute
|
Clarinet 1
|
Clarinet 2
|
Trumpet
|
Trombone
|
instrumentation
WOODWIND
Flute Oboe Bassoon Clarinet 1-2 Bass Clarinet Alto Sax Tenor Sax Baritone Sax |
BRASS
Trumpet 1-2 French Horn Trombone Baritone Tuba |
PERCUSSION
Bells Vibraphone Chimes (opt.) Snare Drum Bass Drum Crash Cymbals Gong (opt.) Concert Anvil Antique Cymbal (opt. Triangle) Suspended Cymbal |
teaching concept categories
teaching considerations
This piece introduces, in a simple manner, musical concepts that would not normally be in young players' vocabularies. These include non-triadic harmonies, simple clusters, modal melodies, short optional solo passages, non-traditional percussion instruments and even a brief aleatoric (chance) section.
To explore the concept of programmatic music, let your group experience recordings of other well-known programmatic literature. Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, and Debussy's La Mer are excellent examples. However, your students may relate better to programmatic music found in the soundtracks for films such as Star Wars. In the music for this series, composer John Williams draws vivid musical pictures that young listeners will readily associate will the action they are watching on the screen.
To explore the concept of programmatic music, let your group experience recordings of other well-known programmatic literature. Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, and Debussy's La Mer are excellent examples. However, your students may relate better to programmatic music found in the soundtracks for films such as Star Wars. In the music for this series, composer John Williams draws vivid musical pictures that young listeners will readily associate will the action they are watching on the screen.