Current Assignment(s)Students should be working on the Remote Learning Assignment for the week of April 6 (due Monday, 4/13). Details can be found in Google Classroom. | Updates |
Listening Recommendation:
The Bach Project - #cultureconnectsus
From The Bach Project website:
"In August 2018, Yo-Yo Ma began a two-year journey to perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s six suites for solo cello in 36 locations around the world, music that is among the first Yo-Yo ever learned when he began playing the cello at age four. The project is motivated not only by his six-decade relationship with the music, but also by Bach’s ability to speak to our shared humanity at a time when our civic conversation is so often focused on division."
Click here to learn more.
"In August 2018, Yo-Yo Ma began a two-year journey to perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s six suites for solo cello in 36 locations around the world, music that is among the first Yo-Yo ever learned when he began playing the cello at age four. The project is motivated not only by his six-decade relationship with the music, but also by Bach’s ability to speak to our shared humanity at a time when our civic conversation is so often focused on division."
Click here to learn more.
Weekly Feature: Unique Ensembles
247 Matryomins
(just watch the video first. yes, those are Matryoshka or Russian Nesting Dolls)
"Ensemble Da" is a large group of Matryomin players. What is a Matryomin? (Also: why are they wearing stethoscopes and holding dolls?) To answer these questions, first we need to talk about another instrument:
| The Theremin |  |
The theremin was invented in 1920 by a Russian physicist named Lev Termen (in the United States his name was Leon Theremin). Besides looking like no other instrument, the theremin is unique in that it is played without being touched. Two antennas protrude from the theremin - one controlling pitch, and the other controlling volume. As a hand approaches the vertical antenna, the pitch gets higher. Approaching the horizontal antenna makes the volume softer. Because there is no physical contact with the instrument, playing the theremin in a precise melodic way requires practiced skill and keen attention to pitch.
| | The theremin is actually incredibly difficult to play, since it the distance from the antenna that controls pitch and volume. Even when played well, it has a somewhat interesting sound, as you can hear in this clip. |
As you can imagine, the theremin has never been a hugely popular instrument, though it does have a very loyal fanbase (don't believe me?visit http://thereminworld.com/).
In 2000, Japanese thereminist Masami Takeuchi developed the Matryomin, in an attempt to make the instrument "more accessible" to the masses. He adapted the theremin to have only 1 antenna, and inserted it into a Matryoksha doll (more commonly known as a Russian Nesting Doll). Why? Your guess is as good as mine. But it resulted in the strangely fascinating "Ensemble Da" that you saw above. Click here to learn more.
And here's one more video of "Ensemble Da," which raises even more questions: why are they in stairwells and on the beach and holding umbrellas? We may never know. But it turns out that the stethoscopes are just so each player can hear and their Matryomin and play in tune.
In 2000, Japanese thereminist Masami Takeuchi developed the Matryomin, in an attempt to make the instrument "more accessible" to the masses. He adapted the theremin to have only 1 antenna, and inserted it into a Matryoksha doll (more commonly known as a Russian Nesting Doll). Why? Your guess is as good as mine. But it resulted in the strangely fascinating "Ensemble Da" that you saw above. Click here to learn more.
And here's one more video of "Ensemble Da," which raises even more questions: why are they in stairwells and on the beach and holding umbrellas? We may never know. But it turns out that the stethoscopes are just so each player can hear and their Matryomin and play in tune.
 | Thus concludes this week's tour of Unique Ensembles. Since Friday would have been a day off from school, there won't be a new Daily Chorus News. Happy weekend! Enjoy another picture of my cat, who is also practicing social distancing by staring longingly at my neighbor's cat through the window. Sick of seeing pictures of my cat? Send a picture of something fun you've been doing lately, or maybe something delicious you've baked? Email Ms. Simmonds here. |
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