Form in Music

 Form in music refers to the ‘Way a piece of music is designed’

(A plan, shape or design which the music is built).
(Form is the structured design of a composition determined by the
organization of its musical material.)
The basic Elements in musical form
 Repetition - Is essential because music cannot be captured by the ear
the same way the eye captures a picture or painting
 Variation - Is necessary because without it, with in varied repetition,
music would become intolerable and boring.
 Contrast - Is necessary because even varied repetition of the same
material would become monotonous.
 Balance - Makes music meaningful and easy to understand.

Phrase is a musical sentence which brings out meaning of a piece. It is

indicated by a Slur.
Coda is a section which is added to the end of the passage to give you it a
more satisfactory ending.
Episode is a section which is contrasted in style and key to the principal
theme.

Forms of music
1. Binary Form
2. Ternary Form
3. Rondo Form
4. Theme and Variation Form
Binary Form

 The simplest musical form is called BINARY FORM (Two-part form,

Movement of continuity, A-B form, Open form or Closed form)

 As the name implies, Binary form has two sections, A and B

 The A section begins in the tonic key and may change or MODULATE to
the dominant key or a related key. The B section may begin in the new key
and will return to the original key of section A, at the end with a perfect
cadence a coda may or may not be added. Each section may be repeated as
shown by double bars and repeat dots.

 Binary form was very popular during the Baroque period. Most of the
nursery rhymes are in Binary form.

Eg:- Brahm’s Lullaby

When Johnny comes marching home
Goosey Goosy Gander
Baa baa Black sheep
Gigue
Green sleeves
Minute

Ternary Form

 Ternary Form or three-part form. The ground plan is A – B – A

A – Principal theme or melody in the Tonic key.
B – Episode different to the Principal melody in the Dominant or related key.
A – Principal theme or melody in the tonic key, ending with a Coda in the
Tonic key.
Ternary form is also called
 Episodical Form, as it has only one episode separated by two principal
melodies.
 Song Form or Closed Form, since most of the songs which have two verses
and a chorus follow this pattern. It is therefore called Song Form.
 A-B-A Form
Eg:- De capo aria from Handel’s Messiah
Chopin’s Prelude in D-flat Major
Opening chorus of Bach’s St. John Passion

Rondo Form
 Rondo form consists of a “theme” (A) that opens the piece, repeats after
contrasting “episodes” (B, C, D, etc.), and closes it.(Alternating first
section with contrasting sections.)(ABACA Form,Extended Ternary form)
 The Italian word rondo derives from the French rondeau which means
“a little round”.
 A piece written in rondo form, then, takes you on a circular musical
journey, where you regularly bump into the main theme.
 Commonly, the rondo takes the form A-B-A-C-A-B-A.
 There are no limits to the Rondo form. You could even have one that goes.
ABACABADAEAFACAGAHAIAJAKALAMANAOAPAQACADAEA
FAGABA , But that’s a little extreme.
 Because of its simple structure, the rondo can appear in pieces that are
stylistically very different and in compositions both ancient and modern
 It was mainly used in the classical period

Ex :- Rondo Alla Turca by Mozart

Mozart’s 4th Horn Concerto; 3rd movement
Brahms Violin Concerto; 3rd movement
Fur Elise by Beethoven
The Entertainer by Scott Joplin
Variation Form

 The form called ‘Theme and Variations’ was widely used in the Classical
period.
 Variations are pieces which start with one pattern or tune and then changes
them in different ways. Theme is another name for the main musical idea
of a piece.
 In this form, a basic musical idea – “The Theme” – is repeated over and
over and is changed each time. A Theme / Variation I / Variation II /
Variation III / and so on…… Each variation should be a recognizable
version of the main theme, but different from the others. Each variation is
usually about the same length as the theme.
The changes may involve

 Melody
 Rhythm
 Harmony
 Accompaniment
 Dynamics
 Tone color
 Key
 Counterpoint
 Timber
 Ornamentation
 Texture
 Orchestration

Ex : The Harmonious Blacksmith by Handel

The ‘Trout’ Quintet by Schubert
Sonata in A K331 by Mozart
Mozart’s Sonata in A K331
Mozart’s “ Ah Vous dirai-je, Maman” (‘Twelve Variation)
 History of Music
The Four main periods or eras.

1. The Baroque period (1600-1750)

2. The Classical period (1670-1820)
3. The Romantic period (1820-1900)
4. The Modern period (1900-onwords)

The Baroque period

 The years 1600 – 1750 have been set aside as the Baroque period.
 The word “baroque” means elaborate. The music of the period was
very ornamental.

Characteristics of the music of the Baroque period

1.The rhythm patterns heard at the beginning of a piece of music are repeated
throughout.
2. Gradual changes through crescendo and decrescendo are not prominent
features.
3. The texture of music is mostly “POLYPHONIC” (Contrapuntal) which
means there is more than one tune being played at once
4. A melodic idea heard in one voice in likely to make an appearance in the
other voices as well.
5. A system of writing called “FIGURED BASS” was a principal feature of
Baroque music. The figures do not refer to the roots of the chords but relate
the chord position to the note in the bas
6. During the Baroque period the composers of music were under the
patronage of kings, Queens, Dukes Courts and other high dignitaries
Composers

Johann Sebastian Bach - German - (1685-1750)

George Frederic Handel - German - (1685-1759)
Antonio Vivaldi - Italian - (1678-1741)
Domenico Scarlatti - Italian - (1685-1757)
Henry Purcell - English - (1659-1695)
Giovanni Battista Lully - Italian - (1632-1687)

Instruments

 The instrument used mostly during the period was the HARPSICHORD
 Organ
 Clavichord
 Spinet
 Virginal

Johann Sebastian Bach - German - (1685-1750)

J. S. Bach was a German composer who came from a long line of musicians.
His father, grandfather, and great grandfather were all church organists or
town musicians in Germany. Bach had his first musical training form his
father. At 9 years he lost both parents and supported himself by singing in the
church choir and playing the organ and the violin. At 18 he became church
organists and later court organist and conductor for a Prince and then the
director of music of St. Thomas church. Bach wrote music in every known
form of his day, except opera. His music includes pieces for orchestra for
small groups of performers, for solo organ, Harpsichord, clavichord, violin
and cello. During the 1740s his eye sight failed but he continued to compose,
conduct and teach music.

Master of Polyphony
48 Preludes and fugues • (for listening Prelude and Fugue No 1)
Anna Magdalena Note Book • (Minuet in G)
St. John and St Mathew Passions (Church Music)
Brandenburg Concertos (Concerto No 3)
Christmas oratorio

George Frederic Handel - German - (1685-1759)

G. F. Handel was born in Germany one month before Bach. Handel was not
from a musical family. His father wanted him to study low, not music. By the
time he was 9 his musical talent was so outstanding that his father permitted
him to study music with the local organist. By the age of 11 he was
composing music as well as giving organ lessons. Handel was a master of
Italian opera and English oratorio. (Opera and Oratorio will be described later
in Types and styles of music) At 20, one of Handel’s operas was successfully
produced. He stayed in Italy for 3 years writing Italian opera. On his return to
Germany he took a well-paid position as Music director. Unlike Bach was
stayed in Germany all his life, Handel travelled much and settled in England
under the patronage of Queen Anne and King George the 1st. In England
Handle was brought in to popularity and wealth. By 1753, Handel was still
conducting and giving organ concerts though he was almost blind. When he
died in 1759, around 3000 mourners attended his funeral in Westminster
Abbey

Father of Oratorios
Oratorios – Ester, Messiah (Halleluiah Chorus)
Orchestral work – Water music (Fire works)
Opera - Rinaldo, Almira
Harpsichord music (variation on Harmonious Blacksmith)
The Classical period
1.The historians of music have set aside the years 1750 – 1825 as the
Classical period. It was an age of instrumental music.
2.The Piano replaced the Baroque instrument, the Harpsichord.
3.Music with divisions or movements.
4. Homophonic texture [main melody accompanied by chords] replaced the
Polyphonic texture
texture [two or more parts weaving around one another independently.]
5. Larger Orchestras.
6.The Sonata, the Symphony and the Concerto became standard works.
7.An accompanying style called “Alberti Bass” came into use. (Alberti bass
is a kind of broken chord or arpeggiated accompaniment, where the notes of
the chord are presented in the order lowest, highest, middle, and highest. This
pattern is then repeated.)

Composers

Franz Joseph Haydn - Austrian - (1732 – 1809)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Austrian - (1756 – 1791)
Ludwig van Beethoven - German - (1770 – 1827)

Franz Joseph Haydn - Austrian - (1732 – 1809)

He was an Austrian composer and pianist. Haydn spent most of his childhood
singing in church choirs. He was dismissed from the choir when he was 18.
He then earned a living by becoming a freelance musician – teaching music
and composing. His first steady job came in 1757 at 25 years of age when he
was hired as Music Director for Count Morzin. Haydn served the Royalty. He
was the Musician of Prince Esterhazy. Haydn was a remarkable composer
who symbolized the meaning of the compositions of the Classical period. His
music always stayed true to form. Haydn composed many pieces of music for
the courtly orchestra to perform.
 Father of the Symphony
&
Father of the String Quartet.
104 Symphonies – [Salomon, Surprise, Clock etc.]
Oratorios – [The Creation, The Seasons]
Chamber music – [String quartets, Trios]
Concertos – [Trumpet concerto]
Piano sonatas

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Austrian - (1756 – 1791)

He was an Austrian composer. His father was a violinist of the court
orchestra. Mozart was a musical prodigy who began composing at the
age of five. Shortly after his talent was discovered, his father took him
on concert tours with his sister. Tragically, Mozart died at the young
age of 35. In his short life, he created over 600 compositions. Among
them are symphonies, concertos, chamber music, string quartets, piano
sonatas and operas. His Requiem stands out among his many excellent
choral works. After Mozart’s death all his music was arranged by a
person named “Kochel” thus Mozart’s works were listed using the
letter K.

Child Prodigy
&
Prince of Concertos

The Magic Flute

Don Giovanni
The Marriage of Figaro are Mozart’s
Ludwig van Beethoven - German - (1770 – 1827)
Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. His first music teacher was
his father. He began his career in the employment of the Bonn Court in
Germany. At the age of 22, he moved to Vienna where he spent the rest of his
life and earned a living from the sale of his compositions. 22 Beethoven
broke away from the patronage of the aristocracy (high society) and became
independent. A lover of Nature, he became deaf in his late 20s. His numerous
works.

Shakespeare in Music
&
The Bridge between the classical and romantic period

9 symphonies
concertos for piano and for violin
chamber works
overtures
32 piano sonatas and an opera Fidelio.
The “Moonlight” sonata
two Romances for violin and orchestra the “Choral” symphony and the
“Pastoral” symphony
The Romantic period (1820-1900)

1.The Romantic period, music became more expressive, emotional and

picturesque.
2.Beethoven can be regarded as the bridge between the classical and the
Romantic period by introducing new elements to the forms of music
3.Freeform and design of the music.
4.Longer melodies.
6.The major use of chromatic harmonies and dissonances.
7.More use of dynamics and articulations than ever before.
8.Larger instrumentations.
9.Intense energy and passion
10.Dramatic opera
11.Extensive symphonies
12.Stimulated by art and literature
13. compositions
14.Expanded music genres

Romantic Period Composers

Beginning
Late

Frederic Chopin - Polish - (1810 – 1849)

Frederic Chopin was born in a small town near Warsaw, Poland, in 1810. His
father, a teacher was French and his mother was Polish. When he was six
years old he began studying Piano and he played a Concerto in public at the
age of eight. Chopin developed a passionate love for Poland even though he
lived most of his adult life in Paris, France. When he left Poland, he took
with him a goblet filled with the soil of his beloved native land. He attended
the Warsaw Conservatory of music. In 1829, he began a concert tour to
London by way of Vienna, Munich and Paris. At this time, the Russians
invaded Warsaw, making it difficult for Chopin to return to Poland. Chopin
remained in Paris the rest of his life Chopin preferred to perform for
small gatherings of friends and society people in private homes. He was
exhausted when he returned to Paris and died there in 1849. The soil from
Poland that he had kept with him was sprinkled over his grave.
Chopin helped to make the Piano a successful solo instrument. Most of his
delicate, poetic compositions were written for solo piano. His beautiful
melodies sang with his feeling of love, sadness and longing. His lively, happy
Mazurkas and Polonaises (folk dances) expressed his love for his native land.

Poet of the Piano

54 Mazurkas
Military Polonaise
Minute Waltz
Raindrop prelude
Revolution Etude

Robert Schumann- German - (1810 – 1856)

Robert Schumann was born in Germany in 1810, the same year Chopin was
born. When he was 6 years old, Robert began piano lessons. After graduating
from grammar school, he went on to study law at the university. Schmann
was more interested in music than in law and eventually gave up law
completely. A t 18, he went to Leipzig where he studied at 22, he
permanently injured his hand after which Schumann devoted himself to
composition and literary work. He started a magazine, New journal for
music, He became well known as a critic, editor and a great spokesperson for
the Romantic period. In 1840, Schumann married Clara Wieck, an
outstanding Pianist and daughter of his former Piano teacher, and his wife
was a great inspiration. During the early years of his marriage he began to
write songs. Many were touching. Songs expressing his great love for Clara
and children. (They had eight children) In 1843, he was named teacher of
piano, composition and score reading at the new Liepzig Conservatory.
In 1844 Schumann accompanied Clara on a successful concert tour of
Russian where she performed many of his compositions. In 1850 they moved
to Dusseldof where Schumann became town musical director.
By 1854, his mental health had failed and he tried to drown himself in the
Rhine River. He was rescued and taken to a private asylum where he died
two years later.

Teacher of Piano

Album for the young (The happy farmer, Solders march, Melody)
Scenes from childhood

Franz Schubert- Austrian - (1797 - 1828)

Schubert was born in 1797, Vienna, Austria, the son of a school master. Even
as a child, he had astounding musical gifts. At 11, Schubert became a choir
boy in the court chapel and won a scholarship to the imperial seminary,
where he played first Violin and occasionally conducted the orchestra.
Shubert so loved music that he once sold his schoolbooks to buy a ticket for a
performance of Beethoven ‘s Opera, Fidelio. His love of poetry led him to the
art song. Then he composed his first great song, ‘Gretchen at the spinning
wheel’. The next year he composed 143 songs, including ‘‘The Erl king’’
When he was 19 , he composed 179 works including 02 symphonies , an
opera and a mass. When he was 21, Schubert gave up teaching at school to
devote himself entirely to music. He associated with a group of Viennese
poets and artists who admired his compositions. Schubert often lived with
friends because he did not have money to rent a room of his own. Then he
spent his afternoon in cafes, drinking coffee, playing billiards, reading
newspapers and talking with friends. He accompanied the songs andplayed
his delightful waltzes while friends danced.
Most of his works were composed for performances in the homes of Viennas
cultivated middle class. Unlike Beethoven, Schubert did not mingle with the
aristo crazy. Schubert was 31, he died of Syphilis in 1828, The career of
Schubert, the earliest master of the Romantic art song, was unlike that of any
great composer before him. He never held an official position as music
director or organist, and he was neither a conductor nor a virtuoso.

Master of the Romantic Art Song

Gretchen at the spinning wheel

The Erl king
Serenade
Unfinished Symphony

Franz Liszt - Hungarian - (1811 – 1886)

Franz Liszt was born in Hungary in 1811. Liszt s father Adam Liszt
wanted his son to learn music and began teaching Franz. When he was
six years old. He progressed so quickly that he performed a public
concert when he was 9. Liszt s family moves to Vienna, Austria. So
that he could have better teachers. Liszt gave recitals in Vienna. A story
says that Beethoven went up and kissed the young Liszt forehead and
praised him. In Paris, Liszt became friends with Chopin. Chopin was so
impressed with Liszt’s playing and encouraged Liszt to become a
serious composer. Liszt would eventually compose over 1000 works
for the Piano. From 1839-1848, Liszt gave concerts in the great
Europeans cities and was recognized as the greatest Pianist of his day.
In 1866, the Pope conferred on Liszt the tittle of lay priest. He is
considered one of the greatest composers of the Romantic Period.

Lay Priest
Libestraum
Hungarian Rhapsody
Giuseppe Verdi - Italian - (1813 - 1901)
Italian composer born in 1813. At the age of 10, he went to Bussetoy to study
music. He served as church organist for nine years. Verdi was an ardent
nationalist who got elected to the first Italian parliament. He composed the
Grand march from ‘Aida’ an Opera. Commissioned to commemorate the
opening of the Suez cannel. He wrote many operas and the famous song ‘O
my country so beautiful’ and lost A national liberation hymn sung by all
Italian Patriots.

Opera - Othello, Aida

Song - O my country so beautiful

Peter Tchaikovsky - Russian - (1840 - 1893)

This Russian Composer outstanding for his orchestral, including Concertos
and Ballet scores, wrote in distinctive Russian style. He was one of the
internationally famous and popular composers, due to the reason that he
always wrote tuneful melodies and he used orchestral sounds in a variety of
exciting ways. His first Ballet ‘‘the Swan lake’’ was acclaimed a great
composition. It was based on a Legend. He composed a few more Ballets.

Ballet - Swan lake

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Sleeping Beauty

Orchestral - 1812 Overture

Felix Mendelssohn - German - (1809 – 1847)
Mendelssohn was a German composer and the sun of a wealthy aristocratic
family. His father, a banker, provided every advantage of education, travel
and experience to his talented son. He became a leading pianist and organist
of his day. Mendelssohn died at 38, partly due to exhaustion from overwork.
In his lyrical instrumental and vocal compositions, the music displays his
romantic spirit and expert craftsmanship. Of his chamber works, his set of
piano pieces called Songs Without Words are quite romantic and expressive.
He composed magnificent works for the organ.

Violin Concerto in E minor Op. (64 his largest orchestral)

Concert - “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
Oratorios - St. Paul and Elijah
Piano Composition - Song Without Words No.1 Op.19
Rondo Capriccioso in E major.
12 symphonies

Johannes Brahms - German - (1833 – 1897)

Brahms lived in Vienna where he was for most of his life, a free-lance
composer. He was a good friend of Robert Schumann and his wife Clara, a
fine pianist of the day.

Symphonies
2 Concertos for Piano and one for Violin
Short piano pieces
Over 200 songs
Some choral music such as A German Requiem
Liebeslieder Waltzes and Hungarian Dances
Richard Wagner - German - (1813 – 1883)

Wagner was a German composer and conductor who Grew up in a theatrical

atmosphere. As a young boy, he never tried to learn to play an instrument.
When he was 17, he entered a university where he was more interested in
riotous student club life than in academic studies. He composed both the text
and the music of his operas. The Ring of the Nibelung, a set of four operas
was performed in his own opera house. Wagner used the rich power of the
Brass instruments to heighten his full orchestral sounds

Lohengrin -Bridal chorus - Opera

The Flying Dutchman - Opera
Tannhauser - Opera
Tristan and Isolde - Opera
The Siegfried Idyll - Orchestral Works

Claude Debussy - French - (1862 – 1918)

He was born into a poor family in France in 1862, but his gift at the piano
sent him to the Paris Conservatory at age 11. At age 22, he won the Prix de
Rome, which financed two years of further musical study in the Italian
capital. After the turn of the century, Debussy established himself as the
leading figure of French music. During World War I, he died at the age of 55.
he was one of the most highly regarded composers of the late 19th and early
20th centuries and is seen as the founder of musical impressionism.

La mer - 'The Sea' - Orchestral composition

Préludes - Piano
Clair de lune - Piano suite
Children's Corner - Piano suite
Maurice Ravel - French - (1875 - 1937)
He was a 19th and early 20th century most widely popular French composer
of classical music. Ravel was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire at age 14,
and later studied with Gabriel Fauré.

Bolero - one movement orchestral piece

Pieces for piano
Chamber music,
Two piano concerti
Ballet music, opera, and song cycles.
Types and styles of music
The main types of music written for are
Vocal – for voices to be sung
Choral – for a large number of voices a chorus or choir
Instrumental – To be played on an instrument
Orchestral – for orchestra
Chamber – for small groups of instrumentalists
Solo – One instrumentalist or vocalist
Duet – Two instrumentalists or vocalists.
A piano duet is played by 2 performers on the piano using four hands
Trio – Three instrumentalist or vocalists
Menuet – A 3 beat French country dance
Opera – A play or story that is sung and acted with scenery and
costumes, which a chorus and orchestra as well
Oratorio – A religious story or play sung to music by a choir. It does not
have acting costumes etc. as in an opera

Chamber Music (Solo performance up to Quintet)

Chamber music is played by small groups of performers. The name comes

from the time when musicians attached to the King’s court, gave concerts in
his chamber or room.

SOLO – A composition for one instrument or voice is a Solo.

The performer of a Solo is a Soloist. A performer on a piano is a pianist and
on a guitar is a guitarist.

DUET – A composition for two instruments or for two voices is a Duet.

Two performers on a piano – with 4 hands is a piano duet. The term “Duo” is
generally used for instrumental music with the exception of a piano duet.
TRIO – A composition for 3 performers, instrumental or vocal, is a Trio.
A composition for violin, viola and ’cello is an instrumental trio.
A group of vocalists, such as Soprano, Contralto and Tenor or Bass, is a
vocal trio.

QUARTET – A Quartet is performed by 4 instrumentalists or vocalists.

A String Quartet is performed by 2 violinists (on Violin I and Violin II), viola
and cello.

QUINTET – A composition for 5 instrumentalists or vocalists is a Quintet.

In chamber music, the performers will play as a group but each player
will play his or her part separately on their instrument.

Concertos

 The Concerto is an instrumental composition.

 It is a composition for a solo instrument with an orchestral
accompaniment.
 It is often in three movements. (Fast – Slow –Fast)
 There is a special unaccompanied show piece (without the orchestra) for
the soloist which is called the ‘‘Cadenza’’.
 For several minutes, the soloist displays his/her skills and techniques
without the orchestra.
 W. A. Mozart is known as the Prince of Concertos.

Eg:
1. Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major (k.218) - W.A. Mozart
2. Clarinet Concerto in A Major (k.622) - W.A. Mozart
Ballet

 Ballet is a type of dance performed to music, which tells a story or

expresses an idea.
 It is a work consisting of choreography with orchestral accompaniment.
 One of the most popular ballets is Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” which
tells a story about a girl who befriends a charmed nutcracker and brings
him back to life on Christmas Eve.
Eg.
1. Sleeping Beauty - P. I. Tchaikovsky
2. Swan Lake - P. I. Tchaikovsky
3.The Nutcracker - P. I. Tchaikovsky

Suite

 Suite is a set of dance movements, which are played one after the other.
 It is an instrumental composition.
 These dance forms are usually in Binary form and in the same key.
 Most common collection of dance forms are :
(I) Allemande
(II) Courante
(III) Sarabande
(IV) Gigue
 Additionally, other dance forms are sometimes included.
(Minuet, Gavotte, Passepied or Bouree)
Eg;
1. Water music – G.F. Handel
2. Fireworks music – G. F. Handel
3. Children’s corner suite – C. Debussy
4. Suite No.2 for small orchestra – I. Stravinsky
 Overture
 The term Overture is used for two purpose:
(I) The term is used for a piece of instrumental music composed as an
introduction to an Opera, Oratorio or a similar dramatic work.
(II) An independent instrumental piece which has no connection to any other
musical composition
 Later the overture was established in two forms;
1. Italian overture
2.French overture
Eg;
1. Leonore overture - L. v. Beethoven (an overture from Fidelio)
2. Hebrides overture - F. Mendelssohn (an independent music piece)
3. William Tell overture- G. Rossini (the overture of William Tell opera)

Opera

Opera is dramatic stage production that involves singing, acting, dancing,

costumes, staging and orchestral accompaniment. Opera is an entertainment
on a grand and lavish scale, performed in a hall or an Opera House. An opera
may be comic or serious, long or short, heavy or light. An opera singer’s
voice is usually very strong and highly trained and can carry the softest notes
to the highest balcony without artificial amplification, which distorts the
quality of sound. Among the composers of opera are Handel, Wagner,
Mozart and Verdi.

Aria is a lyrical song found in opera.

Recitative is a vocal solo in opera that presents the text in a sung-speech
manner in free rhythm with musical accompaniment.
Libretto denotes the text (words) of an opera.
Librettist is the the person who writes the text is the Librettist.
 Stories from Operas
Lohengrin– Richard Wagner [1813 – 1883]
Elsa is accused of killing her brother Gottfried. A knight in shining armour
appears in a boat drawn by a swan. The knight offers to marry Elsa on one
condition- she must not ask for his name or where he came from. She agrees
and they marry.
Later, Elsa came to know that the knight was Lohengrin who came to prove
her innocence. Her brother, Gottfried was turned into a swan by a witch.
Lohengrin’s prayers transform the swan into Elsa’s brother. Lohengrin
departs and Elsa, stricken with grief, dies.
Magic Flute – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart [1756 – 1791]
Three ladies – the servants of the Queen of the Night – save Prince Tamino
who is attacked by a serpent. Having seen the portrait of Pamina, the Queen’s
daughter, Tamino falls in love with her and goes to rescue her from a
supposedly evil priest who had protected Pamina. With the use of a magic
flute, Tamino finds her and passes three tests imposed on him by the priest
Sorastro, with whose blessings they get married. A Bird Catcher, Papageno
also finds his lover Papagena with the use of magic bells given to him by the
three lady servants of the Queen of the Night.
Aida – Giuseppe Verdi [1813 – 1901]
Aida, an Ethiopean princess is held prisoner in Egypt by Amneris, the
Egyptian King’s daughter. An Egyptian General, Radames is secretly in love
with Aida. Amneris is also in love with Radames.
Among the prisoners is the Ethiopean King, who with the help of Radames,
escapes with his daughter through a secret route.
Radames refuses to marry Amneris and as a penalty, is buried alive.
Meanwhile, Aida secretly returns and climbs down to the crypt, where
together they await their death.
 Oratorio

Oratorio is a setting of a text usually on a sacred theme for chorus, soloists

and orchestra for performance in a church or concert hall. The terms Aria,
Recitativo and Libretti are used in Oratorio as in opera. Oratorio differs from
opera as it is performed without acting, scenery, costumes or décor but only
with singing and music.

Christmas Oratorio – J. S. Bach [1685 – 1750]

This is a series of six Church Cantatas (a Cantata is a short sung sacred
work) intended to be performed in church on the three days of Christmas,
New Year’s Day, the Sunday after New Year’s Day and Epiphany – the feast
days of the Christmas season.
The Messiah – George F. Handel [1685 – 1759]
The Messiah is one of the most famous oratorios of all. It has been heard
repeatedly, year after year for more than two centuries. It is in three parts,
each of which dealing with a particular period in the life of Christ.
Part I is on prophecy and Christ’s birth; Part II on His suffering and death
and Part III on the Resurrection and Redemption. Words of the oratorio are
from the Bible.
King George II was so fascinated by the glorious “Hallelujah” Chorus in
The Messiah, that he rose from his seat, and since then, it has become
traditional for the audience to rise whenever this chorus is performed.
The Creation – Joseph Haydn [1732 – 1809]
Considered by many to be Haydn’s masterpiece, The Creation depicts and
celebrates the creation of the world as described in the book of Genesis and
Paradise Lost. It is structured in three parts – the first two parts about the
creation as narrated in the Bible, the third depicting Adam and Eve in
Paradise.
 Symphony

The great contribution of the Classical period to orchestral music is the

Symphony. It is a large composition, usually lasting between 20 – 45
minutes. It often consists of four movements:
1. A dramatic fast movement
2. A lyrical slow movement
3. A dance-like movement [Minuet or Scherzo]
4. A brilliant fast movement
Haydn wrote about 104 symphonies; Mozart, over 40 and Beethoven, 9.
Examples of symphonies with identification names:

Beethoven – 6th Symphony [Pastoral Symphony]

Haydn – 102nd Symphony [Clock Symphony]
Mozart – 41st Symphony [Jupiter Symphony]

Lied
Lied is the German word for Song. [Pronounced: leet and the plural form –
Lieder: leader]
Lieder are written for voice and piano for performance in chambers or
concert halls. The piano accompaniment plays an important role in the song.
Common themes of lieder are love, longing and the beauty of nature. Franz
Schubert [1797 – 1828] gave birth to lieder. Among his songs are “Who is
Sylvia” and “Hark! Hark! The Lark!”
 March
Music for a procession or parade must necessarily be in duple or Quadruple
time. Music has been written for slow marching and quick marching
consisting of 2 beat and 4 beat rhythms.
Examples-
 Handel’s Scipio march
 Funeral march
 Schubert’s Military march
 Colonel Bogey march
♦ An American by the name of J. P. Sousa has written over 200 marches for
marching parades.
Marching bands
Music for marches are usually provided by a marching band. A Marching
band is a group in which various instruments perform for the purpose of
entertainment.
School bands
Many schools specially schools in Sri Lanka, have a marching band which
provide music for school functions. A school marching band may contain
from 25 – 35 students. Most bands have some kind of uniform that include
the school name, school colors and the school crest.
A school band consists of wind instruments, Percussion instruments or even
keyboard instruments. (melodicas)
 Waltz

A Waltz is a dance in triple time. It was the most popular dance of the 19th
century. The beauty of the Waltz lies in its motion, as partners glide across
the floor in time with the music. There are many composers who wrote
waltzes.
Examples-.
 Waltz of the flowers
 Fairy wedding waltz,
 Beautiful blue Danube waltz
♦ Waltzes have been written as solo pieces for piano by composers like
Chopin and Brahms
♦ Waltzes for dancing have been written by the Viennese composer Johann
Strauss
 Orchestra
An Orchestra is a group of instrumentalists, especially one combining
bowed string, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections and originally
assemble to play classical music. Today the range of instruments have
widened with the inclusion of electronic instruments for the purpose of
playing modern music.
There are a very few Western Classical orchestras in Sri Lanka.
They are as follows:
The Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka
Orchestra of the Chamber Music Society of Colombo
National Youth Orchestra
The Krasna Orchestra
The Four Main Sections of the Orchestra
1. The String Family
2. The Woodwind Family
3. The Brass Family
4. The Percussion Family

The String Family

The orchestra consists of 4 main divisions of instruments, namely: String,

Woodwind, Brass wind and the Percussion. In this grade we learn about the
String section of the orchestra.
The String family is known to be the backbone of the orchestra as the string
instruments are capable of playing on a wide compass, starting from the
lowest note to the highest note. The string players perform mostly
uninterrupted during orchestral concerts.
 Generally the leader of the orchestra is a string player in the 1st Violin
section. The string family consists of the Violin, Viola, Violoncello and
Double Bass. The sound is produced by the use of a bow of horse-hair.

Violin
This is the smallest and the highest pitched instrument of the string family. It
has a bright, beautiful and a sensitive tone. The strings are tuned a Perfect 5th
apart. It has four strings stretched across its hollow body. The strings are
usually made from steel, gut or nylon. Pegs are used to tighten or slacken the
strings. It has the longest and lightest bow. This instrument is said to be
closest to the human voice. The length of the instrument is 23-1/2 inches. The
Violin is called the “Baby of the string family.”

The range of the violin

The high E string has a brilliant sound that has attracted composers such as
Bach and Mozart.
Viola
This is slightly larger than the violin. It is tuned a 5th lower than the violin.
Music for the viola is written in the Alto clef and the strings are tuned a
Perfect 5th apart (C, G, D, A). It is the Alto voice in a string quartet and is
known as the “Cinderella of the orchestra.” The sound of the Viola is not as
clear and bright as the Violin. It is mostly used to play the inner parts of the
orchestra score and in ensembles like Trios, Quartets and Quintets etc.

The range of the

Violoncello
The ’cello is the shorter name for this instrument. It is much
larger than the violin. It is played seated with the instrument held
between the knees of the player. The strings are tuned a Perfect
5th apart and they are C, G, D and A. The C is two octaves lower
than Middle C. This is a low pitched instrument and music is
written usually in the Bass clef unless it goes higher to Tenor.
This instrument can be used for solo performances with an
accompaniment. At the band the instrument, there is a long spike
which is rested on the floor. It is an intensely expressive
instrument, having a wonderful singing tone.
The range of the ’cello
Double Bass (Contrabass)
This is the largest of the string family. It is 60 inches in length and produces
the lowest sounds. The Double Bass is tuned a Perfect 4th apart and it is a
transposing instrument. Actual notes are sounded an octave lower than the
written notes. The Double Bass is played either seated or standing. This too,
has a small spike at the bottom of the instrument which helps the instrument
to rest on the floor as it is too large to hold, otherwise. The Double Bass
adds depth to the music and gives a very strong bass accompaniment. There
are two distinct differences in a Double Bass from the other members of the
string family.
The range of the double Bass

Parts of the Violin

The Woodwind Family

Woodwinds are a type of musical instruments that make their sound when a
musician blows air into or across the mouthpiece. They get their name from
the fact that most of them were once made of wood. Today many are made of
other materials such as metal or plastic.

1. Piccolo
2. Flute
3. Clarinet
4. Oboe
5. Bassoon
6. Double Bassoon
7. Cor-Anglais

These instruments can be categorized according to their reeds

Without reeds Single reed Double reed
Piccolo Clarinet Oboe
Flute Bassoon
Double Bassoon
Cor-Anglais
Piccolo
The Piccolo is the smallest and highest pitched instrument in the
Woodwind family. It is a transposing instrument. Piccolo is half the
size of the flute (13 inches) and plays an octave higher than the written
notes. In the orchestra, one of the flute players will usually play piccolo
if that instrument is required.
Playing range of notes:

Flute
The Flute is held horizontally and is about 26 inches long.
The sound is produced by blowing across the mouth piece.
The flute is probably the oldest of all instruments that
produce pitched sounds (not just rhythms), and was
originally made from wood, clay or hollow reeds like
bamboo. Some special modern flutes are made of silver, gold or platinum but
flutes are generally made out of other metal mixtures. There are generally 2 to
4 flutes in an orchestra. A standard flute is a little over 2 feet long and is often
featured playing the melody. Players’ fingers open and close the keys, which
change the pitch

Playing range of notes:

Clarinet
It is a single reed woodwind instrument used in Orchestras
and bands. Clarinet in B flat sounds a Major 2nd lower
than the written notes. Clarinets come in a number of
different sizes, and the standard B-flat clarinet is just over
2 feet long. Some musical works require the clarinetist to
play several types of clarinets in the same piece. There are
2 to 4 clarinets in the orchestra playing both melodies and harmonies, and they
have a dark rich sound in their lower notes, while the upper part of the clarinet's
range is bright and resonant. The clarinet is played by blowing through the reed,
and using your fingers to change the pitches by opening and closing the keys.
Playing range of notes:

Oboe (Hautbois)
The Oboe is made of wood, and is a non-transposing
instrument. It is used to sound the tuning note A to tune the
other orchestral instruments. The playing position is
similar to that of the clarinet. There are usually 2 to 4 oboes
in an orchestra and they produce a wide range of pitches.
Playing range of notes:
Bassoon
This instrument is low in pitch. It is sometimes referred
to as the clown of the orchestra because of its comical
sounding notes. It is 8 feet long, bent in two, for
convenience and a player uses a neck sling. There are 2
to 4 bassoons in an orchestra and they have a roughly
similar range to that of the cello. Bassoons usually play
lower harmonies.
Playing range of notes

Double Bassoon (contrabassoon)

It is the largest and the lowest sounding woodwind
instrument. It is a transposing instrument sounding an
octave lower than the written notes. It is 16 feet long, bent
four times for easy handling and uses a neck sling. The
contrabassoon is the “grandfather” of the wind section and is
so much larger than a regular bassoon.
s
Playing range of notes range of note
Cor- Anglais (English horn)
This is a transposing instrument, sounding a 5th
lower than the written notes. The bottom end of the
English horn opens out into a rounded bell shape,
which gives it a warmer, fuller sound. The English
horn is closely related to the oboe that uses a
double reed, and is played in the same manner.

Playing range of notes:

The Brasswind Family

The brass family members that are most commonly used in the orchestra
include the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and the tuba

Trumpet

It is the smallest member of the brass family and plays the highest pitches.
During the ancient times, an instrument similar to the trumpet was used as a
signaling device in battle or hunting. There are many types of trumpets, but
the most common is the B Flat. trumpet. It is a Transposing instrument. It is
made out of slender brass tubing and with three attached valves. These
valves are pressed in different combinations to change the pitch. The trumpet
has a bright and a vibrant pitch. An object which is known as the Mute in
different shapes is inserted to the bell to produce different tones
French horn

This instrument originated from the hunting Horn. It can produce a wide
variety of sound Loud to soft, harsh to mellow. The French horn has long
tubing which is relatively much longer that the trumpet, coiled up into a
circular shape with a large bell at its end. There are attached valves and
different combinations to change the pitch. It is also a transposing
instrument.

Trombone

This trombone is the only brass instrument. that uses a slide instead of the
valves to change the pitch. When played while pulling or pushing the slide
the pitch can be changed.

Tuba

This tuba the largest and the lowest sounding instrument with a deep rich
sound. The tuba too has long metal tube curved into oblong shape with a
very large bell at its end. There are three attached valves and different
combinations to change the pitch.
 Percussion Family
Percussion instruments make a sound when it is,
 Struck
 Shaken or
 Scraped
On some of the instruments you could play a tune (melody) and on some
you cannot.
The instruments on which a melody can play is called Definite Pitched
instruments They are the Timpani, Xylophone, Celestar, Chimes or Tubular
Bells, Vibraphone, Marimba
The instruments that produce an unpitched sound is called Indefinite Pitch
instruments. They are the cymbals, triangle, snare drum, bass maracas, gong
drum and tambourine,
It’s not easy to be a percussionist because it takes a lot of practice to hit an
instrument with the right amount of volume, in the right place and at the right
time. In an orchestra the percussion players are placed at the back of the
orchestra as their instruments are very powerful. The notation for the
unpitched percussion instruments are written on a monotone and appropriate
steve for the pitched percussion instruments

The Conductor

He is the person who stands at the front of the orchestra moving

his arms giving instructions. He helps the orchestra to keep
together and control their speed and how loudly or quietly they
should play. He sometimes has a stick known as the baton.
 Basic movements of the conductor.

Compound Duple

Duple Triple Quadruple

Piano
The Mechanism of the Piano.

 The piano was invented towards the end of the 17th century by the Italian
composer Bartolomeo Cristofori.
 The Most popular keyboard instruments of the day were the harpsichord and the
clavichord.
 Both these instruments looked like the piano but the major difference was the
way the sound was produced.
 The piano only gained popularity in the Classical period and gradually replaced
the harpsichord as the favorite keyboard media.
 There are 7octaves and 88 keys on the modern piano. The high pitched notes
are to the player’s right and the low-pitched notes are to the left.
 The tone on the piano is produced by hammers hitting at the strings when a key
is depressed. A damper stops the strings from vibrating further when the key is
released.

 There are 3 pedals on the piano

a. The left “soft” pedal or the “Una corda” pedal softens the tone produced
when depressed. To release the soft pedal, the term “Tre corda” is used.
b. The middle “sustenuto” pedal sustains selected notes when depressed.
c. The right “sustaining” pedal or “damper” pedal lifts the dampers off the
strings when it is depressed to sustain the notes and to enrich the tone
produced.

These mean: depress the right (sustaining) pedal, then release it.

 The piano is seldom used in the orchestra. It is usually used as a soloist of a

piano concerto with orchestral accompaniment.
 The word (pianoforte) literally means soft-loud.

Some of the main differences between an upright piano and a grand piano are:
  Strings are stretched horizontally in the grand piano and vertically in the
upright
 The middle pedal of the grand piano is called the sostenuto pedal.
 Middle pedal of the upright piano is called the practicing pedal. When
pressed a long felt falls between the strings and the hammers and the
sound is very soft.

Recorder
The Recorder is also known as the English flute. The Instrument in use today is
very similar to the one used during the time of Shakespeare, King Henry VIII and
Handel. The revival of the Recorder was chiefly due to Arnold Dolmetsch (1858 –
1940). There are 4 principal sizes of the Recorder, the descant, treble, tenor and
bass. The descant, treble and tenor have a range of more than two octaves, while
the bass is slightly less. The lowest note of the descant Recorder is C above
Middle-C. Music for the descant and bass Recorders is written one octave lower
than it sounds in order to avoid excessive use of leger lines. A peculiarity of
Recorders is that they tend to give the impression of sounding an octave lower than
the actual pitch.
Care – The tube of wooden recorders should be dried as moisture collects in the
tube when you play. Use a pull-through (a small piece of soft material tied to a
string) to remove the moisture. Wooden Recorders should be oiled lightly every
few months. Add a small quantity of oil to the pull-through rag for this purpose.
Store the Recorder in a cool place away from the sun.

The Box Guitar

 This is the traditional form of the guitar, also known as the Spanish guitar.
The acoustic guitar has forever been linked with Spain, so much so that it is often
called the Spanish guitar. Flamenco, the Folk music of Spain, is well renowned
for its exciting guitar music as well as its energetic dancing.

Today, the acoustic and electric guitars have spread throughout the world
and dominate Popular music and much Folk music in America and Europe. The
Box Guitar has 6 strings. Guitar strings, traditionally made of gut, are now made
of nylon for classical guitars, and the flat-top guitars used in Popular music are
strung with steel strings. The amount of tension needed to stretch the strings can
be varied to suit the player. The acoustic guitar with nylon strings is considered
to be a better choice, because the nylon strings are easier to play and softer in
tone quality.

Following is a table of parts of the guitar related to the above diagram.

Parts of the Box Guitar
1. Machine head 6. Sound hole
2. Pegs 7, Body
3. Nuts 8. Strings
4. Fingerboard 9. Bridge
5. Frets 10. Position mark
 Pitch range of the Guitar

Music for guitar is notated one octave higher than it sounds. Also,
the upper range may vary slightly depending on the make and
model of the guitar.
Drums commonly used in Sri Lanka
Drums and drumming occupy an important position in the annals of Sri
Lanka. The existence of various types of drums and drumming is mentioned
in some historical accounts including the Mahavansa where drums were
described as “Na na thuriya sanghutto”. Ancient pillar inscriptions, copper
plates and deeds also bear evidence of drums.

The ancient system of classification of drums comes under five headings,

namely
 Athatha – with the use of hand
 Vithatha – with the use of sticks
 Vithathatha – with the use of hand and stick
 Susira – sound produced through blowing
 Ghana – hitting or striking solid bodies together

During the period of King Dutugemunu, drums were employed as a

means of communication, for Royal ceremonial occassions, and to convey
public messages to the masses from the Royal court. Now we can see that
drums were used not only as an instrument to communicate, but also as a
means of entertainment among many layers of society.

Geta Beraya
 This up-country drum is called the Geta Beraya (a drum with a knot)
according to its shape. This is the main drum used to accompany dance
sequences in all Kandyan rituals. The two faces of the drum are described as
‘left’ and ‘right.’ The right side is covered with the hide of a monkey or
monitor lizard and the left side is covered with cattle hide, which is used to
produce a finer sound. Since the drum is usually played at open-air venues,
the sound carries quite a distance. This drum is turned out of wood from
Ehela, Jack, Kohomba and Milla trees and various parts of the drum have
separate names. The drum is tied around the player’s waist.

Thammattam
a

The Thammattama consists of two separate pieces. It is called the

Pokuru Beraya and is also referred to as the cluster of drums. The twin-set
of drums are of different sizes. As this is a twin-set, it is termed
“Ubhayatala.”
The top is covered with cattle hide and the body turned out of wood
from Milla, Kohomba, Jack and Ehela trees. The left side produces low
pitched tones while the right side produces high pitched tones. These drums
are played with two special sticks called Kadippu made out of Kirindi. The
Thammattama is an essential instrument during religious services at Buddhist
temples and shrines. This is a Vithatha instrument.
 Daula

The Daula is the main instrument used for the rituals of the
Sabaragamuwa tradition of dancing. It is an essential instrument in the
Buddhist ceremonies and Hevisi performances.
The Daula is used in the religious Theva at Buddhist shrines and in
religious processions. The drum is 15 inches in length and has an
approximate face diameter of about 16 inches. The body of the Daula is
painted in colours and in the up-country, these decorations are known as
‘mevara kireema.’ In this exercise, ancient motifs are usually painted on the
instrument. Both faces of the drum are covered with cattle or goat hide. One
face of the Daula is played with a stick known as Kadippu, and the other by
hand. It is a Vithathatha instrument (using hand and stick.)

Bummadiya
The Bummadiya has the shape of an
earthenware pot. The mouth is covered with an
animal skin. It is an instrument generally used to
accompany harvesting songs and Folk dances. It is
also known as ‘Kalaham’ or ‘Kalabera.’
Udekkiya

This is an instrument of Indian origin. This instrument tapers at the center

and broadens out at the two ends. There is a cloth band at the center which
helps the modulation of sound. The Udekkiya is the main instrument used
for the singing of Prashasthi and it is used mostly in the Kandyan region.
The main feature in Prashasthi is the Udekkiya being held with one hand
and the drum being played with the other.

Rabana

The Rabana is the oldest and simplest form of a drum used in Sri
Lanka. There are two types categorized as Ath Rabana and Banku
Rabana. The Banku Rabana is closely associated with cultural and
social functions. A common sight during the Sinhala and Tamil New
Year is the Banku Rabana which takes pride of place amongst the
village folk.
Banku Rabana
The women in the village eagerly flock around the large Rabana which
is placed on a tripod and heated mildly to get a rich tone quality. They sit
around the Rabana equally spaced and start beating the Rabana with both
hands or at times with a bundle of eekels. They produce a grand sound but it
is not only drumming that the women engage in. They also sing Siupada
called Rabanpada which are equally melodious when blended together. The
Rabanpada are sometimes sung as duets or for competing with each other.
The village folks gather around these performers and entertain themselves
with the various techniques used by the players to produce a range of
different rhythms to match the songs. It is a very lively sight to watch these
women playing the Banku Rabana.

Ath Rabana

The Ath Rabana is a much smaller version of the Banku Rabana. It is

used for simple rhythmic accompaniment and often used for various
purposes. This Rabana is mainly used for accompanying Virindu. The
Virindu singer himself holds the Ath Rabana and sings the virindu to the beat
of the Rabana. Virindu singers are a common sight in public places,
especially in the trains.
 Folk Songs
Folk songs are songs that are handed from generation to generation verbally,
there are no written music scores of folk music.
Long time ago people would have been inclined to sing some type of simple
song like melody to drive away their loneliness, types of jobs. As Sri Lanka
is predominantly an agriculture state and people focused more on agriculture,
cultivation etc.
Categories of Folk Songs
1. Mehe Gee
2. Edahlil Gee
3.Samaja Gee (Keli Gee / Daru Nelavili Gee)

Mehe Gee
Folk songs sung while engaged in a specific task such as Boating, Mining,
Harvesting, Watch – hut, Carters etc.
 Paru Kavi Boatmen’s song  Pal Kavi Watch hut song
 Pathal Kavi Miners song  Gal Kavi Carter’s song
 Goyam Kavi Harvesting song  Kurakkan Kavi
 Nelum Kavi
Keli Gee
Keli GeeFolk songs sung while at play in the villages people were engaged
in different types of games such as Lee keli, onchili varam, Mehewara ge,
pancha keli, kulu netum, kalagedi netum etc.
 Onchili Waram Swing song  Klagedi dance
 Stick dancing  Olida Keliya
 Mevera Keliya
Daru Nelavili Gee 
There is yet another type of folk song used when mothers put their young
ones to sleep called Daru Nelavili Gee or lullabies.
 Viridu

Viridu is also a type of folk song which is popular among the village and
town folk. It is sung in public places to draw the attention of spectators, lately
viridu has become a form of singing for begging and they convey their tale of
woe through the song, but most of the viridus conveyed a good message to
the society based on our cultural values. The famous duet type of Viridu by a
mother to own daughter is a fine example of a Viridu.
The instrument used for Viridu is the Ath Rabana and the Viridu singer
himself uses the Rabana to accompany his singing. Later the broadcasting
corporation aired few programs based on Viridu. A duo who was acclaimed
as a fine couple of Viridu singers they were Sena Fonseka and Daya
Nellampitiya. In recent times a stage drama titled “Ninage Suduwa” based on
a true incident which consisted of a Viridu sung by Jackson Anthony and
Anula Bulathsinhala.

Baila

A very popular word Baila is known by Sri Lankans young and old as it has
captured many hearts of Sri Lankan music lovers. In the true form of Baila,
Baila is a dance which is accompanied by the song Kafferingna. When we go
back to the history of Baila it is Portuguese after arriving in Sri Lanka then
“Ceylon” in the year 1505 brought in the African Kaffirs were brought to
Ceylon to work as slaves and Soldiers. It was the carefree spirit of Kaffirs
that inspired two music forms as Chicote and Kafferinghe.
Kaffirs spoke a distinctive language based on Portuguese. As different
waves of Africans came into Sri Lanka they brought with them various
traditions and styles of Music with African roots that have developed in Sri
Lanka. While the Kaffirs are proud to be Sri Lankans they also acknowledge
there African history.
Instrument for Baila in the old days were banjo, Mandoline and other
improvised instruments. Present day most of the modern instrument like
Guitar, Piano,Banjo, Mandoline, Drum Kit etc are used.
 Calypso

Calypso is a style of African-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad

and Tobago during the early to mid20th century and spread to the rest of
Caribbean Antilles and Venezuela. The rhythm of the Calypso can be traced
back to the arrival of the first African slaves brought to work in the sugar
plantations of Trinidad.
The rhythm is syncopated and the melody has many repetitions. The words
are often improvised and comment on political or current events, because as
slaves, they did not have the freedom to talk to each other and were deprived
of all family links.
The instruments were Guitar, Violin, Bass Guitar, Congas, Bongos,
Maracas, Bamboo sticks, bottles and spoons.

Jamaican Farewell
Banana Boat Song
Yellow Bird

Sri Lankan Calypso

Calypso-style Baila is a variety of Sri Lankan music. It is the outcome of Sri

Lankan musicians being fascinated with the Caribbean music of the 1960s. It
typically uses Acoustic guitar, Rhumba shakers and Conga/Bongo drums.
Sri Lankan groups such as Los Cabelleros led by Neville Fernando (known
as the king of Sri Lankan Calypso), La Bambas, The Humming Birds, Los
Muchachos and the Moonstones practiced this music which merged
Caribbean rhythms into traditional Sri Lankan Baila music

u,a nr ysñÈßfha
uqyqÿ /,a, Tiafia
Nadagam - නාඩගම් நடகம்
 Nadagam became popular around 1750.
 Origin - South India (Carnatic music)
 Philippu Singho (blacksmith) - First producer of Sinhalese Nadagams.
 Maddalaya (Tamil drum) Thalampata are used to accompany
 Nadagam Significant sections of a Nadagam:
o Uruttuwa – a part sung in double-tempo
o Innisaya - a non-rhythmical chant
Examples for Nadaga
1. Ehelepola
2. Brumford
3. Kalagola
4. Singhavalli
5. Eugine
6. Raja Thunkattuwa

Nadagam Song
1. Shanhta Johnge Veediye kade
2. Alle Banda mage Ramya wan
3. Gambeera thedathi kansthanthinupure
Nurthi – නූර්ති நூர்தி

 Nurth is became popular in 1890.

 Origin -North Indian - Hindustani music.
 First Nurthi were performed by the 'Elphinstone Drama Company', a group
of actors came from India, at 'Floral Hall' in Colombo
 Father of Nurthi - C. Don Bastian
 Harmonium & Tabla are used to accompany Nurthi music.
 But today other instruments such as the Violin and the Flute are also used.
Nurthi Song

1. Suwanda Padhma
2. Wasana Dneki
3. Premayen Mana Ranjithwe
Musicals

 A Musical is a form of stage entertainment, popular in Britain and the USA.

 It has a story in which spoken dialogue is combined with musical items such
as singing and dancing, with scenery, costumes and spectacle.
It came from lighter versions of opera.

1. My Fair Lady - Get me to the church on time

Wouldn't it be lovely

2. Singing Nun - Far beyond the stars

3. The Sound of Music - Edelweiss

The Hills are alive

4. Wizard of Oz Mary Poppins - Somewhere over the Rainbow

5. Mary Poppins - Spoonful of Sugar
Chim Chim Cherry

6. Singing in the Rain - Singing in the Rain

Popular Musicals & the Composers

1. Rodgers and Hammerstein - Oklahoma

South Pacific
The King and I
The Sound of Music

2. Andrew Lloyd Webber - Joseph's Dream Coat

Evita
Cats
Phantom of the Opera

3. Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim - West Side Story

Pop Songs taken from Musicals

1. Evita - Don't cry for me, Argentina.

2. Cats - Memory.

3. Whistle Down the Wind - No Matter What

 Programme Music
 Programme music is descriptive, suggesting visual images or telling a
story.
 It is the opposite of "Absolute Music" which is not trying to
describe anything, just the sound of the piece.

 1812 overture - Tchaikovsky

 Carnival of Animals - Saint-Saens
 Peter and the wolf - Prokofiev
 Four Seasons - Vivaldi
 Willian Tell Overture - Rossini

Peter and the Wolf

The music for Peter and the Wolf was composed by Russian composer Sergei
Prokofiev. Prokofiev used instruments from four instrument families to tell
his musical story. Discover in this story which instrument
represents the main characters:

Peter - Strings
Wolf - 3 French Horns
Grandpa - Bassoon
Hunters - Wood winds
Gun shot - Timpani
Duck - Oboe
Bird - Flute
Cat - Clarinet
The 1812 Overture

 This overture was written by Tchaikovsky to celebrate Russia’s victory

over Napoleon's Army in 1812.
 The overture begins with the Russian hymn "O Lord, Save Thy
People". Viola and Cello section begins and with the other instruments
entering gradually illustrating the peaceful element of life in Russia at
that time.
 The change of mood introduced by the woodwinds at this stage
conveys a disturbing feeling as an indication of trouble approaching
Russia.
 Next the enemy's approach is announced by the snare drums with the
theme.
 As the war develops the power of the French Army's attacke is
underlined by the opening theme of their National Anthem La
Marseillaise supported by tensed ostinato by the strings.
 This is followed by a Russian folk dance theme that symbolizes the
growing Russian National unity.
 The final stages of the battle are represented with an explosive climax
using brass, percussion and real cannon with a quotation from the
Russian National Anthem, God Save the Tsar! commemorating the
Russian victory
 Oriental Music
Indian music is categorized into 2 main divisions:

1. North Indian music (Hindustani music)

2. South Indian music (Carnatic music)

•Music in Sri Lanka is based mainly on the Hindustani system of music.

The Harmonium consists of 3 octaves. (Octave - ima;lh - Sapthakaya)

1. Lower octave - ukaø ima;lh - Mandra Sapthakaya

2. Middle octave - uOH ima;lh - Madhya Sapthakaya
3. Upper octave - WÉp ima;lh - Uchcha Sapthakaya

• The lower octave is indicated by a dot below the note. ( i )

• The upper octave is indicated by a dot above the note. ( i )

 Music is written in notes called ‘Swara’ (ස්වර). There are 7 notes like in
Western music. They are:

Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni
ස රි ග ම ප ද නි
 A Sharp is called ‘Theevra’ (;Sj%) and it’s indicated by a dash above the
note. (eg. ම’ = F#)

 A Flat is called ‘Kōmala’ (fldau,) and it’s indicated by a dash below

the note. (eg. රි = Db )

 Sa & Pa (ස & ප) are called ‘Achala Swara’ (wp, iajr) as they cannot be
changed by adding accidentals.

 Ri, Ga, Ma, Dha, Ni (රි, ග, ම, ද, නි) are movable and are called ‘Chala
swara’ (p, iajr).

Ma is the only note that can be raised by adding a sharp.

Theevra Ma = F sharp. ම’
Ri, Ga, Dha, Ni රි, ග, ද, නි can only be lowered by adding a flat.

▪ Kōmala Ri = D flat රි
▪ Kōmala Ga = E flat ග
▪ Kōmala Dha = A flat ද
▪ Kōmala Ni = B flat නි
Note Value

Crotchet ස

Minim ස_

Dotted Minim ස_ _

Semibreve ස___

Quavers සස

 Bar - úNd. – Vibhāga

 Beats - ud;%d – Māthra
 A barline is indicated by a vertical line ( | ) to separate beats into
different rhythms.
 A rest is indicated by a + sign.