May 6, 2020: Week 8, Volume 3

Current Assignment(s)

Students should be working on the Remote Learning Assignment for the week of May 4 (due Monday, 5/11).
​Details can be found in Google Classroom.

Updates

Click here for parent information about the current Remote Learning Assignment (sent 5/4/2020).
​
The first-ever Nipmuc Virtual Chorus Concert is available!
​Click here for a short message and link to the concert (sent 4/29/2020).

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Yay, Altos!

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Weekly Feature: Unique Instruments

Pyrophone

Otherwise known as the fire organ or the explosion organ, the Pyrophone Organ is powered by combustion. Patented by the Strasbourg-born musician and scientist Fréderic Kastner in 1873, the pyrophone was a musical instrument in which flames encased in pipes similar to those of a traditional organ were used to produce musical notes. Which means that, to play it, a certain part of it needs to be on fire. Of course, it's all perfectly safe - the organ itself can be powered by propane and gasoline, and the explosions that force exhaust down the pipes to make the sounds can be regulated. But still, it's an explosion organ. 

Several modernized versions exist, including this one:

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Listening Recommendation:
Boston Pops Virtual Orchestra

BSO and Pops have been putting out some fantastic content and resources - and this one is no exception! For more, click here.