Texture

Today’s agenda:

• Brief presentation on texture

• Explore adding texture to songs written in the Pentatonic Scale with Orff Instruments, drums

• Strategies:

– Rhythmic ostinato

– Rhythmic/melodic ostinato

– Adding thirds

– Adding Bordun

– Introduction interlude and coda

– Partner song/canon singing

Texture: Definition

It refers to sounds played at the same time. It can be described as thickness or thinness.

Harmony refers to 2 or more pitches played at the same time.

• Traditional Harmony: melody is played over a chord structure.

• Examples: echo songs, partner songs, part songs, harmonic ostinato, & chordal accompaniments.

Polyphony: several melodies are played at the same time.

• Examples:

• Songs like Fish and Chips and Vinegar, Orchestra Song

• 20th Century Compositional techniques: includes all sounds such as voiced, spoken, whispered, sung, instrumental, environmental and body sounds.

KEY QUESTIONS:

• Do students know how to use a variety of techniques for varying the texture in their compositions?

• Do they know a variety of ways to sing and play in harmony?

• Do they have a basis for comparing traditional harmony with 20th century techniques?

CONTENT:

• Texture is the thick or thin layering of sounds.

TEACHING STRATEGIES

• Make visual images representing thick and thin texture changes.

• Explore improvisations that vary the texture.

• Create a few rhythm Harmony can be created through imitation as in a round or canon.

• For Health & Strength Musicanada 3, Make New Friends, Musicanada 5, Poor Tom, Musicanada 6, Thanks giving Canon, Musicanada 4 Medieval Canon, Canada Is Music 5/6, Gitsigakomim Music Play 2/3

• ostinati based on small sections of a song. Example:

Liza Jane: Musicanada 4.

1. Teach Song

2. Add rhythmic ostinati clapping patterns at bottom of page as introduction, interlude and coda

3. Add “Little Liza Jane” ostinati on xylophones (b a f# A-)

4. Add thirds ostinato on alto mirimba (f#a, f#a, eg,F#A-

5. Add bordun on bass marimba (D- A-)

6. Play song with all additions

• Texture is created by singing/playing rounds or canons.

• Play a round using untuned percussion.

• Speak a poem or say it as a round.

• Examples: Catchy Cannon Musicanada 4, Canada has a Beat Canada Is Music ¾,Witches Chant Musicanada 5,Whoop-de-da Musicanada 6.

• Harmony can be created through adding one melodic ostinato or several ostinati.

• Examples: Land of the Silver Birch Musicanada 5 and Canoe Song Musicanada 4. Liza Jane, Musicanada 4, Head and Shoulders Baby Canada Is Music 3/4

• Harmony can be created through imitation as in a round or canon.

• For Health & Strength Musicanada 3, Make New Friends, Musicanada 5, Poor Tom, Musicanada 6, Thanks giving Canon, Musicanada 4 Medieval Canon, Canada Is Music 5/6, Gitsigakomim Music Play 2/3

• Harmony can be created by combining partner songs.

• Giddap Old Dobbin, Happiness Runs, Provinces of Canada, It’s a Small World, Canada Is Music 3/4, Fish & Chips & Vinegar, Rufus Rustus, Musicanada 6 Gitsigakomim, Music Play 2/3

• Example: Gitsagakomim

• Teach song

• Add drum (timri ta,ta,ta)

• Add ostinato “gitsigakomim” (gfdcD---)

• Add bordun D- A-

• Add “Way ya way ya” ostinato

• (A-A-g f D-,G-G-f d D-)

• Sing as partner song and canon with Orff accompaniment.

SUMMARY:

Pentatonic songs and Texture:

Definition

Key questions

Teaching strategies

• Examples explored today:

– rhythmic ostinati

– melodic ostinati

– thirds

– Bordun

– Partner song/canons