So, What's Your Plan?

[Peter]

Current Crosby Chart Trivia:<P>2,500 recorded tracks; 299 US Top 20 hits; worldwide sales in excess of 300,000,000 records; the 1947 re-recording of Holiday Inn`s 1942 White Christmas, with conservative total sales of 32,000,000, is the world`s 2nd biggest-selling single, behind Elton John`s Candle in the Wind 1997 (itself no.1 in Canada for 45 weeks!).

[audiogirl]

Getting us back to the original topic, what am I doing? I have some students who are studying Greek Mythology. I am trying to figure out a way to not make the story of Daphnis and Chloe seem not so x-rated, so that I can work in Ravel's creations from my "Classics for Lovers" CD. I think is BEAUTIFUL.

[audiogirl]

Oh yeah. You'd be surprised how many people have never heard the explosive beginning to "Phantom." (The mind-blowing organ number.) Probably not classical music by definition, but certainly a door-opener.

[The Great Mazinga]

how old are the students? That is the key....I am a great reader of Greek and Norse Mythology, I bet we could find an "in" somewhere.

[BenG]

"Daphnis and Chloe" is gorgeous music. "La Valse" Is another wonderful example of his work. But if you want to get kids interested in classical music, that trusty stand-by "Bolero" will probably work best. I have a nice little original numbered print portrait of Ravel hanging in my house. He had quite a profile. <BR> <BR>If Beethoven decomposed in his grave, does that mean Maurice 'unRaveled?'<P>Forgive me.

[audiogirl]

Yeah, but too many people might associate Bolero" with you-know-who running down a beach half-naked. My parents would hang me for that.

[The Great Mazinga]

I think you use Holsts the Planets for some Greek Mythology teachings, it will hold their attention....and that way you can tie in the Roman Gods and their heritage with the Greek stories of Troy, Odysseus, the Aneid....the planets, lead to a discussion on constallations and there you have Pegasus, Medusa and Perseus.....it is endless.

[Peter]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by audiogirl:<BR><B>Yeah, but too many people might associate Bolero" with you-know-who running down a beach half-naked. My parents would hang me for that.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>There`s another one! BO!! Whatever became etc. Actually, audiogirl, the movie, 10, is now over 20 years old, so I wonder how many young people would associate Bo with Bolero? The piece has been trivialized since then, of course, by Torvill & Dean, in winning gold at the Winter Olympics in 1984.<P>The climax of Bolero is astonishing - one is not prepared at the gentle outset for one of the longest crescendos in all music, ending, with real menace, on a key change.

[The Great Mazinga]

yeah Peter, but their parents sure remember gotta keep that in mind.<P>Is this a Greek Mythology class? For what age?

[audiogirl]

7th grade. Greek myths. I'm not the teacher who decides the curriculum, although I do make suggestions. I'm the teacher of some kids in the classroom who fall under a certain educational umbrella.<P>I disagree that Torvill and Dean trivilized Bolero. When a group of analytical judges from different countries all gave this pair perfect 6.0's across the board for artistic interpretation, I think the couple was on to something. But then, I'm also an ice skating geek.

[The Great Mazinga]

Have you ever seen "The Cutting Edge" big fan of that movie, I am a hockey geek, so it is where our two interests collide...I am also a big fan of Moira Kelly and the delightful snooty ice skater that gives as good as she gets in a battle of wits...<P>sorry to divert, but as I mentioned, The Planets may be a good in for that age...keep them interested and shows how those myths still impact us today? just an idea...

[audiogirl]

The classroom teacher has discussed the connection between the planets and the gods. I'm just not all that crazy about the music that goes with it. But that's a good suggestion......

[EJA_2]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by audiogirl:<BR><B>Yeah, but too many people might associate Bolero" with you-know-who running down a beach half-naked. My parents would hang me for that.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>As I believe BenG alluded to, Ravel was known for doing his composing in the nude, and a few other curious traits. Of course I think I heard that Beethoven played his piano that way, though I think in his case it was more due to preoccupation. In any case, maybe Ravel is not the place to start. I think that Ravel and Holst are rather hard to follow, and hard to like, for the "new" to Classical music ear. How about some nice Bach or Handel? Not too long. Attention spans are a little short these days -- I think by nurture, not nature -- and you don't want to bore them. I think the Baroque composers are a great place to start because of the comparative simplicity of those works, as well as the general habit they had of producing purely beautiful music. To retain the mythology theme, perhaps Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances, or Gluck's Dance of the Blessed Spirits. Or completely off the subject, the famous piece by Albinoni, or more or less by Albinoni, whose name I cannot recall right now. I do remember that it is an Adagio. Anyhow, just my ideas, for what they're (not) worth. <P> -- EJA<P><p>[This message has been edited by EJA (edited 03-15-2001).]

[audiogirl]

Thanks, EJA.

[serge urtizberea]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by audiogirl:<BR><B>Oh yeah. You'd be surprised how many people have never heard the explosive beginning to "Phantom." (The mind-blowing organ number.) Probably not classical music by definition, but certainly a door-opener.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>That is beautiful music, all right. I love the whole musical.<P>