A couple weekends ago I went to the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra's Masterworks 4 Concert at the Koger Center with three of our other CTE teachers. We received complimentary tickets thanks to the SCPO's Educator's Reception. This annual event honors teachers in all subject areas for their dedication in educating our young people. The concert was wonderful! "The Russian Soul" was the title of the program and featured classical music works by Borodin, Stravinsky, and Prokofiev, all Russian composers. I though this particular programming was very clever because of the Winter Olympics going on right now in Sochi. I love the Olympics! And I love Russian classical music! It was a great night of Russian music that put me in the mood for Sochi. (My students may remember the Olympics unit we did during in fall of 2012, after the summer Olympics in London. Good times!) Although I'm not really an athlete, I have such a huge appreciation for what sports and athletic events contribute to a person's education, physical health and ability, character and work ethic, discipline and teamwork, and the list goes on an on.
One of my favorite pieces on the concert was Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, op. 78. Prokofiev was a Russian composer who lived in difficult times under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. Composers in 1930's Russia were often asked to write music to push the political agenda of Stalin and spread his very specific and controlled propaganda. Movies, music, theater, and just about all forms of art had a propaganda message and had to follow certain rules of content and presentation. Composers and other artists were not free to create art their way, even down to the subject matter they chose to portray, to the extent that they lived in fear for their lives and the lives of their families if there was any suspicion that their art (music, film, painting, etc.) affected Stalin's agenda in a negative or contrary way. One such example was Alexander Nevsky. Alexander Nevsky was a propaganda film about the Russian historical figure and folk hero the Grand Duke Alexander of Novgorod, who was meant to be compared to Stalin, boosting his image and promoting his ideology. Prokofiev composed the music for the film.
After hearing this piece performed wonderfully by the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, I was curious about the topic and did a little research. I came across an amazing website, The Rest is Noise. In its own words, this site "views 20th-century music through the prism of history with its revolutions and counter-revolutions, its major moral and philosophical upheavals around race, gender, faith, political credo and pacifism – and its new relationship to technology and artistic democracy." Many fascinating articles, podcasts, debates, listening examples, and fine musical recordings can be found here for the study of music within the context of history. One of their main topics is called, "Art of Fear", and explores the music of oppression and war. Warning: This is very heavy and complicated stuff, and probably not for children to explore, but definitely worth checking out for adults! Click the button below to explore Art of Fear and The Rest is Noise website.
One of my favorite pieces on the concert was Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, op. 78. Prokofiev was a Russian composer who lived in difficult times under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. Composers in 1930's Russia were often asked to write music to push the political agenda of Stalin and spread his very specific and controlled propaganda. Movies, music, theater, and just about all forms of art had a propaganda message and had to follow certain rules of content and presentation. Composers and other artists were not free to create art their way, even down to the subject matter they chose to portray, to the extent that they lived in fear for their lives and the lives of their families if there was any suspicion that their art (music, film, painting, etc.) affected Stalin's agenda in a negative or contrary way. One such example was Alexander Nevsky. Alexander Nevsky was a propaganda film about the Russian historical figure and folk hero the Grand Duke Alexander of Novgorod, who was meant to be compared to Stalin, boosting his image and promoting his ideology. Prokofiev composed the music for the film.
After hearing this piece performed wonderfully by the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, I was curious about the topic and did a little research. I came across an amazing website, The Rest is Noise. In its own words, this site "views 20th-century music through the prism of history with its revolutions and counter-revolutions, its major moral and philosophical upheavals around race, gender, faith, political credo and pacifism – and its new relationship to technology and artistic democracy." Many fascinating articles, podcasts, debates, listening examples, and fine musical recordings can be found here for the study of music within the context of history. One of their main topics is called, "Art of Fear", and explores the music of oppression and war. Warning: This is very heavy and complicated stuff, and probably not for children to explore, but definitely worth checking out for adults! Click the button below to explore Art of Fear and The Rest is Noise website.