Music & Collaboration

Title: Hava Na Shira
Performers: The Folksmiths
Culture/Origin: Israeli Folk Song
Orchestration: Voices (Ensemble)

This is a song this week that made me think of collaborating with grade schools. It's a very catchy tune, and it's something that is very easy to teach. Students from a university could teach this to students, and the students will easily be able to pick it up. I'm actually using it in a Kindergarten lesson plan for that purpose. If students are advanced, they can even add in the harmonies. Enjoy!

Structure

This week's readings on structure made me think of many different songs, because every song has some sort of structure. The lack of formal “structure” is itself having structure. A song that came to mind particularly is a Scottish folk song called “Banks and Braes.” I sang this song both in middle school and when I was in the Ohio BoyChoir. Here is a link to the song, as performed by Brigid Mhairi. It isn't the best recording, but it gets the point across. This song is in strophic form. It has the one melody that is repeated several times with different words.

Authenticity in World Music Education

Title: Niska Banja
Performers: Liberty High School
Culture/Origin: Serbian Folk Song
Orchestration: Piano, Choir

When I was in honors choir in high school, I remember that the women sang this piece. I really liked it and decided that I would look to see a little more about it. It appears to be an authentic Serbian Folk Song. There is actually a dance that goes with it, although the sheet music only calls for clapping. The lyrics are very interesting, and not necessarily what one would expect when you just hear the song first. Here is the song as performed by Liberty High School and here is the lyrics and background of the song.