Year 8, term 3. Music and Space.

Given the recent NASA findings of the solar system Trapist-1 it felt appropriate to look at how Space has influenced composers in the past. This unit begins by exploring Holst’s The Planets in order to explore the connection between Music and Space and to provide a stimulus for creative composition work.  Pupils explore how Holst uses musical elements and features, including the use of an ostinato, in “Mars”, and then using these features to compose their own Mars, The Bringer of War programmatic pieces.  Pupils learn about the use and manipulation of dynamics including gradations of dynamics and the use of crescendo, performing a theme from “Jupiter” and listening to other movements from Holst’s suite.

Here’s the class singing I Vow To Thee which is Hymn created in 1921 by Sir Cecil Spring and the music composed by Gustav Holst. Gustav included this hymn in the ‘Jupiter Movement‘ of The Planets. (video)

Here is an example of a groups’ version of Mars-The Bringer of War.  The task was to use elements learned from listening activities. (Audio)

Currently the pupils are learning about music technology and they will be creating a soundscape which describes a planet of their choice. Pupils will learn how to sequence music using Digital Audio Workstations. Watch this space!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *