Answer 6

The music you heard was written about 1909 by one of the most advanced composers of his time, Arnold Schoenberg. It was the third of Five Orchestral Pieces, Op. 16. Christoph von Dohnanyi and the Cleveland Orchestra. Label is London. Catalog number is 448279. It is called Farben (or Colors). Sometimes it is referred to as Sommermorgen an einem See (Summer Morning on a Lake). Notice how the same chords shifts colors in the orchestra back and forth between the strings and the winds. If you picked that up give yourself an A+.

OK, got your notes. Here are timings where you should have heard unusual things.

0:47 (If you heard the entrance of the harp, that's amazing)

1:03-1:05 (repeated notes)

1:18-1:20 (three sounds--a harsh chord, high whistle, bird-like flourish)

1:35-1:37 (similar three sounds with whistle in middle) 2:01 bird sound

2:36 bird chirp

You can hear the piece again, Listen!

Schoenberg was trying to convey the sounds of nature, but it's anyone's guess how the first-night audience reacted. Did they get it??

Here's a much more obvious one. Think about this before you listen. Imagine it's a cool morning in the forest. You can hear the sound of a murmuring brook. It's getting light outside. Suddenly, you hear insects and birds as the sun's first rays bathe the earth in light. Nature is awakening. Click on the link and close your eyes. Listen!

Wasn't that incredible! That was the sunrise section from the ballet Daphnis et Chloe by Maurice Ravel. Boston Symphony directed by Charles Munch. RCA 61388--the greatest recording ever of that work! That composition is an hour long and it is an education in all aspects of music. Return to classroom.

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