MC - Rep Listening Book 1

Sergi Prokofiev - excerpt from Peter and the Wolf - Peter's Theme You have just learned a composition called THEME. A theme is a musical word relating to a melody. In a major piece of music there are most often several themes (or melodies). The theme you just heard relates to Peter in the tale - Peter and the Wolf. Every time Peter is active in this musical story; Peter's Theme is heard.

Anonymous - Antiphona: Occurrunt Turbae ANCIENT CHANT is written in the style of the ancient chants of the Christian Church. The example given in this link is an ancient Palm Sunday Chant. One might consider an Antiphona (today called an antiphon) as the equivalent of a short THEME.

Johann Strauss - excerpt from The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz WALTZ FOR DADDY is written in 3/4 fime. This is the expected time signature for waltzes. The Beautiful Blue Danube is also written in 3/4 time. Can you count along in 3's while listening to the excerpt?

Giovanni Gabrielli - Canzon Septimi Toni #2 A FANFARE is a flourish of trumpets or a trumpet call. The melody of FANFARE would sound especially fitting on trumpets. The Canzon Septimi Toni of Gabrielli is a superb example of writing for brass instruments. Imagine this sound the next time you play FANFARE. Try to capture that same excitement as you play FANFARE on the piano.

Franz Schubert - The Trout I FORGOT MY BRAIN TODAY is an example of a song. Sing the words of this song while you play it. Franz Schubert wrote some of the best songs ever written. Here is an example of one of his songs. It's about trout fishing. Can you hear the gurgling stream in the piano part?

Anonymous - Mignonne, allons voir si la rose LOVE AWAITS THE LADY IN WAITING imitates the musical style of songs written in the time of the Renaissance. The Renaissance occured in Europe in the 1500's.. Listen to this old song and see if you can imitate the same sadness as you learn to play LOVE AWAITS THE LADY IN WAITING.

Wolfgang Mozart - excerpt from "Twinkle Variations" THEME AND VARIATIONS are very popular with composers. Almost every great composer has written THEME AND VARIATIONS. Can you hear the "Twinkle" theme in each variation of the excerpt? Can you hear the theme in each variation of your THEME AND VARIATION?

Camille Saint-Saens - excerpt from Carnival of the Animals - March of the Lion You are now working on your first MARCH. A MARCH must be played with a very strict beat. We march with our two feet so MARCHES are written in 2's -- one beat for each foot. Can you count in 2's while listening to March of the Lion? Can you play MARCH with a very strict beat? EXTRA CREDIT: Can you spot Saint-Saens musical imitation of the lion's roar?

Frederic Chopin - Etude in A minor - Opus 25 #4 An ETUDE is a piece of music written with a technical problem to solve. The ETUDE in your book is written so you can learn to play skips smoothly. The piece is written almost entirely of skips. Frederic Chopin wrote over 2 dozen etudes. This ETUDE is a study in left hand jumps; another kind of "skip". You will be playing many etudes in your future piano study.

Franz Josef Haydn - excerpt from the slow movement of the "Surprise Symphony" The WALTZ AFTER HAYDN is based upon this excerpt. Can you hear the similarity between your composition and the excerpt? The WALTZ AFTER HAYDN is written is 3/4 just like we would expect from a waltz. Try counting in 3's to the Haydn excerpt. Does it fit? Try counting in 2's. Does it fit? Your teacher will give you the correct answer.

Wolfgang Mozart - excerpt from Menuetto from the "Jupiter Symphony" AMADEUS AND MARIE DANCE is written in the style of a minuet. A MINUET (or MINUETTO) is a graceful dance in 3's. Can you count in 3's to this minuet from Mozart's last symphony? Some parts will be easier to count than others. That's OK; you will get better as you learn to listen to music. Try to imitate the grace of this MENUETTO when playing AMADEUS AND MARIE DANCE.

Ludwig van Beethoven - excerpt from Allegro con brio of 5th Symphony This excerpt is one of the most famous of them all. Beethoven built this entire movement from the first four notes. The DANCE IN 6'S is built from the first three notes of the first measure. Listen to how Beethoven uses his four note idea over and over in this great symphony.

George Gershwin - excerpt from Summertime from Porgy and Bess FEELING BLUE is written in a minor key. SUMMERTIME is also written in a minor key. When composers want to write music that expresses happiness, contentment or simplicity they most often use a major key. But when composers want to express sadness, serious or complex ideas a minor key often suits them better. Know if you are playing in a major or minor key.

Anonymous - Antiphona: Hosanna HOSANNA is based upon the same ancient Palm Sunday Chant given in this excerpt. Can you hear the similarities between the excerpt and the piece in your book? This composition is well over 1000 year old.

Georg Frederic Handel - excerpt of Solomon - Arrival of the Queen of Sheba Music has always been part of celebrations. CELEBRATE! is your first example of a piece of music for celebration. The arrival of a queen is certainly a reason to celebrate. Here is music picturing the the Queen of Sheba arriving at the courts of King Solomon. This music should be joyous.

Camille Saint Saens - excerpt from Carnival of the Animals - Fossils Composers have always used their strong aural skills to imitate creatures of the animal kingdom. BLACK CAT tries to picture the "slinky' movement of a cat. FOSSILS uses the xylophone. One can almost hear the rattling of the bones of a couple of dancing skeletons. Can you use your imagination to picture the "slinky" movement of a cat while playing BLACK CAT?

This page gives the complete listening assignments that complement Book 1 of Middle C Repertoire.

Many of the ideas found in the pieces in Middle C Repertoire - Book 1 can also be found in various selections of classical music.

Each excerpt is a mini music lesson. Answer the questions to get the most out of each excerpt. Listen to the excerpts several times while in the process of learning the pieces in your music book. If you make the "connection" between the piece of music in your book and the musical example you should be well on your way to playing your assignments with understanding.

Bookmark this page and HAPPY LISTENING!!

Middle C Repertoire - Book 1 is listed on the Piano Teacher Press page of this WebSite. Go here for details.