Authentic Music Selection for Class
In Koop’s article, she describes a situation in which the
teachers would utilize the instrumental accompaniment parts but change the
words to English instead of teaching the students the original language. It is
unclear whether the words were the English translation or whether the teacher
made up a whole new verse, but I am assuming it was the lather. In doing so,
the meaning of the song is altered or completely lost to the students. Changing
music for the sake of changing music is not good. Alternatively, music that is
adapted to be utilized in teaching or exploring other cultures is acceptable if
done carefully. As an instrumental instructor, there are times it may be
difficult to give students the chance to fully understand or connect to
cultural music. While I believe students can gain an understanding through
listening, students could gain a deeper understanding through making music in
using arrangements. If musical arangements of cultural music are designed
carefully, taking consideration of tonalities and cultural understandings, then
the meaning of the song can be left intact and utilized in a wider form.
The video I chose for this week is the band composition
called Overture de Argentina by James
D. Ployhar. While Ployhar is an American composer, he is writing in an
Argentina style for an instrumental band, which is easily heard in throughout
the composition. Even though there are Western Music influences that may be heard in certain areas of the composition, Ployhar attempts to remain as stylistically true to Latin
American style of music as possible for a full band. If music examples are provided to students and
students are given information regarding the Latin American culture, then I
believe that this song is an acceptable song to utilize to further student
growth and understanding of cultural music.
Hi Karla,
ReplyDeletePreserving the authenticity of a cultural style can be a challenge when the ensemble for which the music is being written has different instruments. I agree with you that the integrity of the Argentinian styles are preserved in Ployhar's composition. He scores the music with common rhythmic and harmonic signatures of this style of music. In the performance, the trumpet soloist plays with the same robust vibrato which is so characteristic of much Latin and South American music (i.e. mariachi). In the voice thread discussions for this past week, one topic which came up in my group was the importance of relating listening excerpts to the music an ensemble may be playing so that the two reinforce concepts within each other. I was excited then to see your mention of this same idea in your post, which suggests you also see validity in this idea. I think the students are much closer to immersing themselves in the most authentic experience possible with the combination of listening to and performing music of the same culture because the listening informs the performance.
Hi Karla,
ReplyDeleteI agree that Ployhar keeps the characteristics of the Argentinian music alive in this composition. I admire it when world music is adapted for ensembles that are not of the region. It gives more musicians a chance to experience the kinds of music that they normally would not hear. Thanks for the post.
Ed