The Classical Period and the Music of Beethoven
by Mary Lou Muckleroy (Edited and slightly revised by Clifford Morris)
1. Play excerpts from each
movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (without identifying the composer).
2. Ask students to identify
the composer (give hints if they don't know it).
3. Listen again- students
brainstorm on the emotions or images the different excerpts bring to mind.
II. Main Activities
A. History Lesson
1. Have students do a "quickie" research session using classroom resources, during which each student must find one fact about Beethoven.
2. Students share their facts with the rest of the class- discuss interesting points.
3. Using the musical timeline on the wall, ask a student to identify Beethoven's time period (the Classical period, from 1750-1825).
4. Students do another "quickie" research session, this time discovering facts about the Classical period (including historical events, political events, etc.)
5. Students share their facts with the class and discuss.
B. Listening lesson
1. Listen again to the excerpts, having each student write down on a slip of paper one emotion or image that is brought to mind by the music
2. Have students trade slips of paper and read their responses out loud discuss (move toward a discussion of "Could Beethoven have been reacting to his environment?")
3. Focusing on the final (Choral) movement, ask students to try to translate the German words by focusing on the emotion in the music itself (brainstorm).
4. Pass out a translation of the words - how close did they come? What was Beethoven's message in this symphony? Did he need the words or would the music have been enough? This point was a hot debate when the work was premiered because no one had ever used singing in a symphony before.
5. Final points for discussion: Why did this symphony have such a profound effect on the people who heard it in Beethoven's time? Why does it still have a powerful effect?
C. Assignment of Project
1. Pass out project option
sheets - take questions.
2. Give students several
minutes to decide if they want a partner or if they would rather work alone.
3. Ask students to choose
a project they would feel comfortable doing.
4. Students fill out project
contracts, sign and turn in.
5. Students may work on
projects in class or at home approximately 1 week in duration.
III. Concluding Activities
A. Presentation of
projects by students
B. Self/peer/teacher evaluation
of projects
Directions
Choose a project from the list below. You may work alone or with a partner. You have one week to complete your project. These projects will be presented in class. You may use resources from this classroom, from the library , from the Internet, or from knowledgeable resource people.
1. Play, on the instrument of your choice, a composition by Beethoven. Tell your classmates when the composition was written, to whom it was dedicated, etc.
2. Pretend you are Beethoven, and write a diary entry for his 32nd birthday.
3. Using another classmate, put on a skit or puppet show dramatizing an event or events in Beethoven's life.
4. Pretend you are Beethoven. Write a letter to your brother describing the political events going on around you (especially the French Revolution) and how they are affecting your life and your composing.
5. Make a time line of the Classical period. Show important events, births, deaths, etc.
6. Write a poem describing important aspects and events of Beethoven's life and how they affected him.
7. Develop your own system of musical notation. The system must show pitch and rhythm.
8. Beethoven loved nature; it is reflected in much of his music. Research the geography and climate of Germany, and present your information to the class using the method(s) of your choice.