Glenn Miller
1904 – 1944
American big band leader, arranger, composer and trombonist. Famous for his swing music during World War II.
Fascinating Facts
Glenn was born Alton Glen Miller
He earned money from milking cows to pay for his first trombone
He loved playing football but discovered a love for dance-band music at secondary school.
He played trombone in many different bands.
He wanted to make a unique sound so he got together a swing band consisting of clarinets, saxophones, trombones, bass, drums. This was the start of the ‘Big Band’ sound. His style of music was Swing and people loved to dance to it.
He didn’t think he was very good at the trombone so he preferred to lead the band instead.
He wrote ‘Moonlight Serenade’ but most of his hits were written by other people.
He was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1942
Miller scored 16 number-one records and 69 top-10 hits in just four years, more than Elvis Presley and the Beatles did in their entire careers
In 1942 he joined the army and performed over 800 times during the war years entertaining the troops and keeping up the morale up.
Carole King
1942 –
American singer, songwriter and musician who is considered one of the most successful female songwriters.
Fascinating facts
Links to her music
You’ve got a friend – played and sung by Carole King
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbMI4imWFzY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5BjaxZYiy4 (with lyrics if you want to sing along)
Will you still love me tomorrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0v6xK2Sl3s
It’s too late
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkKxmnrRVHo
Beautiful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlT66PZyquE
It might as well rain until September
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adD0xbZZni4
Where you lead – duet with Kelly Clarkson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wXjxVJkNsw
Songs recorded by other performed
The Locomotion – sung by Kylie Minogue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ensGrUs4xrg
Pleasant Valley Sundaes recorded by The Monkees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhB0Q0S4Yhk
Beautiful – the Carole King musical soundtrack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsDw9YSzMOE&list=PLeBYHmefNPqqgcxlIHYOrfKXHCP3T_8I1
Camille Saint-Saens
1835-1921
Who was he?
Camille Saint-Saens was a French composer, conductor pianist and organist from the Romantic era of Classical music. He was famous as a concert pianist and a composer as well as working as a church organist and a teacher.
Fascinating facts
Camille Saint-Saens had perfect pitch from the age of 3 which means he could tell you what note was played to him just by listening to it and could play music on the piano after hearing it.
He was playing piano concerts by the age of 10 years old
He started composing his famous piece of music -The Carnival of the Animals for his pupils when he was working as a music teacher -but didn’t finish it until 20 years after he finished teaching!
He composed Carnival of the animals as a joke and was worried that it would ruin his reputation so he only allowed one piece ‘The Swan’ to be played during performances while he was alive. The rest of the collection were only performed after Saint-Saens had died. It remains very popular still today.
The Swan was made famous in 1905 when it was choreographed for a famous ballerina Anna Pavlova. She performed it over 4000 times.
Saint-Saens loved geology, botany, butterflies and maths.
His most famous pieces of work were his Organ Symphony and The Carnival of the Animals but he also the first famous composer to write music for a film in 1908.
Saint-Saens was the earliest born pianist to make a recording of his work.
Giuseppe Verdi
1813-1901
An Italian composer best known for his operas. An opera is an art form that tells a story through music and singing. He composed his music during the late Classical and early Romantic period of music.
Fascinating Facts
Links to his music
La Donna Mobile from Rigoletto performed by the Three Tenors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8-vZJNY10k
La Traviata – Brindisi performed by Pavarotti and friends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu7zWrIMV_g
Grand March from Aida
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX0qN6QEvGg
Hebrew Slaves Chorus from Nabucco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VejTwFjwVI
Overture from Nabucco (listen for the change in dynamics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UjZ5d9Q4xA
The Best of Verdi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg-An7TQBbI
What is an opera?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygDCjiGu31c
Lang Lang
1982 -
Lang Lang is a chinese concert pianist who has performed around the world both solo and with leading orchestras. He is highly skilled and plays the piano with great expression.
Fascinating facts
• Lang Lang means ‘Brilliance of the sky’
• His father was a musician playing a traditional Chinese instrument called an erhu.
• He was inspired to learn the piano at the age 2 when he heard ‘The Cat Concerto’ on an episode of Tom and Jerry.
• Lang Lang played in his first concert at the age of 5.
• He has won many awards for his music performances.
• He has played the piano in many performances in concert halls and on television as well as recorded music albums and soundtracks. He has also played for the Queen and US Presidents.
• Lang Lang is only 39. He is married and has a 1 year old baby.
• Lang Lang has set up the Lang Lang Music Foundation in New York to help young people pursue their dream of becoming a musician.
Links to his music
Lang Lang plays the Horse Race (with traditional Chinese instruments)
Turkish March - Mozart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWYmUZTYE78
Lang Lang playing a musical selection with his wife Gina
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERzghQcrqVE
Lang Lang plays ‘Fur Elise’ by Beethoven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s71I_EWJk7I
Piano concerto no. 1 - Rachmaninoff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NADK4g_WHyE
La Campanella – Franz Liszt
David Bowie
1947 – 2016
Who was he?
English singer-songwriter and actor, well known for re-inventing his musical style from punk rock and pop to industrial and jungle. He had an amazing haunting voice.
He sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time, and performed visually extravagant concerts all over the world to huge audiences.
Fascinating facts
Some links to his music
Space Oddity Official video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYYRH4apXDo
Sing along to SPACE ODDITY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_M3uw29U1U
Let’s Dance official video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbD_kBJc_gI
Starman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRcPA7Fzebw
Sing along to STARMAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpLw8VW-R7I
Life on Mars live from Glastonbury 2000
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJB24LVx6fw
Rebel Rebel from Liveaid 1985
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00rP_mlZYx0
David Bowie and Queen – Under Pressure – live performance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoDh_gHDvkk
The Jean Genie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMYg_Ra4cr8
The Laughing Gnome – considered Bowie’s worst song
Frédéric Chopin
1810 – 1849
Frederic Chopin was a pianist and composer from Poland, writing and performing music during the Romantic era.
He wrote almost entirely for solo piano.
Fascinating facts
• Chopin was born in Poland to a French father and a Polish mother who were both musicians.
• He started playing that piano at the age of 8 and after only 1 year of lessons he gave his first concert
• He composed his first pieces of music in Poland but was then forced to move to France due to unrest in his country.
• His music was influenced by polish folk music and Johann Sebastian Bach
• His music had a ‘singing’ style to it, called Cantabile with beautiful haunting melodies.
• He was known for his expressive piano playing and was often completely exhausted and bed-ridden after he gave a concert.
• Chopin liked to play the piano in the dark – he always turned all lights off to play both at home and during performances.
• He was very shy and didn’t like performing to lots of people. He only gave 30 concerts in his lifetime. Five of these were in Britain
• His most famous pieces are his collection of Nocturnes (Night music)
Links to his music:
Fantaisie-Impromptu
Wonderful visual showing all the fast moving patterns of notes up and down the keyboard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gus4dnQuiGk&list=RDEMIKPJp5eBTtqZDt3CvFZVwQ&index=2
Nocturne Opus 9 No. 2 – how does this piece of music make the children feel?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E6b3swbnWg
Lang Lang plays ‘Raindrop’ prelude – see if the children can hear the rain drops
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2d2spnXyLA
Excerpts from 10 pieces of music by Chopin – see if you can work out what the names of pieces mean and how they relate to the music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKqW2fw8yEc
Chopin Four Scherzi with the musical score – see if you can follow the notes (no chance!!!) and pick out some other musical notation and words during the piece. Scherzo means ‘joke’ or ‘playful’. Do you think this is an appropriate name for this style of music? Why?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKL-r07YD3w
The Best of Chopin -background listening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn09UdSb3aA
Evelyn Glennie
1965 -
Who is she?
Evelyn Glennie is a Scottish percussionist and recording artist. Although profoundly deaf, she performs worldwide as a soloist on a wide range of percussion instruments. She teaches people how to listen to music differently.
Fascinating facts
Sergei Rachmaninoff
1873 - 1943
Who was he?
A composer, conductor and pianist from the late Romantic era of music. He was born in Russia who had a ‘jaw dropping’ ability to play the piano. His music was dramatic, exciting and powerful.
Fascinating facts
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756 - 1791
Who was he?
A prolific and influential Austrian composer during the classical period of music. An extremely talented musical virtuoso, he composed pieces for piano solos, orchestras and soloists and operas amongst other things. He is now recognised as one of the greatest classical composers of all time.
Fascinating facts
• His full name was Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart
• He had an older sister called Maria Anna, nicknamed Nannerl, who was also a musician.
• He watched his sister playing the Harpsichord and started playing little tunes at the age of 3.
• Started composing music at the age of 5. He was a child prodigy.
• From the age of 7 he travelled around Europe and performed music with his family in a number of prestigious locations.
• He wrote his first opera at 11.
• He composed more than 600 pieces of music.
• The clarinet was his favourite instrument.
• His pieces of music were catalogued in the ‘Kochel’ and numbered according to the order in which he composed them. K1 – K626 (his unfinished Requiem).
• He was able to write down a whole piece of music after hearing it once.
• The last opera that he wrote was called The Magic Flute.
• Mozart died when he was only 35 years old
• On 27th January 2006, all the church bells in Salzburg were rung simultaneously at the exact hour of his birth, in honour of Mozart's 250th birthday.
• A Mozart monument stands in Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace, which is 3m in height. It has been there for over 150 years.
Bob Marley
1945 – 1981
Who was he?
Robert Nesta Marley was a very famous songwriter, singer and musician from Jamaica. His style of music was called Reggae and he made this type of music very popular. He performed on his own and also with a band called Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Fascinating facts
- Bob was born in Jamaica
- Bob married Rita Anderson.
- He had 11 children
- His song ‘three little birds’ was very popular. It makes people feel happy
- His daughter Cedella Marley used his song One Love to write a children’s book.
https://youtu.be/u5nYeggEjag
- He was a world ambassador for reggae music earning him induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994
- He sold more than 20 million records.
- Aside from music, he was a big football fan.
- Bob was awarded a very special peace medal from the United Nations in 1978 for his brave work trying to bring peace and justice for people in his homeland of Jamaica.
- Bob Marley’s music has become the symbol of peace and unity.
Edvard Grieg
1843 – 1907
Norwegian composer and pianist
Fascinating facts about Grieg
- Edvard Grieg was raised in a musical family
- He wrote lots of pieces of music for piano and violin;
He also composed music for poems and a play.
- Grieg was the most famous person from Bergen, a city in Norway and
there are now are several statues, a music school and a concert hall named after him.
- There is a large crater on the planet mercury named after Grieg
Aretha Franklin
1942 - 2018
Who was she?
Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. She was called ‘The Queen of Soul’. She loved singing gospel music, which is Christian spiritual music sung in a choir often without musical accompaniment but using clapping and foot stomping as rhythmic accompaniment.
Fascinating facts
You Tube clips
I say a little prayer for you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ifw8JhDBvs
Aretha Franklin and The Blues Brothers sing ‘Think’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc36-Li5eww
A little respect
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FOUqQt3Kg0
Aretha Franklin singing Nessun Dorma live 1998
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k33sINjn9o0
Son of a preacher man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZRbTaG3xIw
Bridge over Troubled Water
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9-yfeA2JZs
Documentary about Aretha and her gospel music roots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE94D5_d0z4
Aretha Franklin’s greatest hits
February
SCOTT JOPLIN
1868 - 1917
Who was he?
African American composer and pianist who became famous for his Ragtime music.
Fascinating facts
You tube links:
Maple Leaf Rag – piano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCxLAr_bwpA&list=RDlbwh6bV8xOM&index=3
Guitar orchestra playing Easy Winners
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbwh6bV8xOM&list=RDlbwh6bV8xOM&start_radio=1&t=0
The Entertainer played by piano, violin and clarinet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc361lbgZYo&list=RDlbwh6bV8xOM&index=4
Elite Syncopations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A44QDL-K-bY
The Solace – theme tune from Sting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOwachalNNw
The Entertainer showing musical score and piano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOwachalNNw
Maple leaf rag with score
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TEbZMfYsLo
Maple leaf rag with light visuals notes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBInnwV21DM
The Best of Scot Joplin
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
1840 - 1893
Who is he?
A Russian composer and conductor from the Romantic period of music. He wrote over 170 compositions including several well-known ballets.
Fascinating facts
Links to his music
Piano concerto no. 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybg2BEy_pu0
Ballet – dance of the sugar plum fairy from The Nutcracker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV1qLYukTH8
The Waltz of the Snowflakes – ballet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYaIQNjAX_8
Swan lake waltz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CShopT9QUzw
Russian dance from Nutcracker Suite
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBb6z83uSXM
Russian dance (with Russian dancing on stage!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiiuN9eAy9Y
1812 overture, played by an orchestra. Go to 13.30 mins for bells and brass fanfare, 14.40 for famous ending with cannons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUpuAvQQrC0
1812 overture – visually represented score
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw5EoJY8DEk
Violin concerto in D major
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtSbDJWF0q4
The best of Tchaikosvsky
November
John Rutter
1945 -
Who is he?
John Rutter is an English conductor, composer and arranger of choral music. He is particularly well known for his beautiful Christmas music.
Fascinating facts:
Links to his work:
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol – the first piece that Rutter had published. He wrote it when he was 18. Beautiful Christmas choral piece.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ousLBf0q1y8
For the beauty of the earth – score animation showing all the musical notes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTvAnkNijIc
Cambridge Singers singing Amazing Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nPKxxqXJvQ
This is the Day –composed specially for and sung at the Royal Wedding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl93WXJEVMQ
All things Bright and Beautiful sung by a school choir, conducted by John Rutter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjbktnTuV30&list=RDbjbktnTuV30&start_radio=1&t=82
Lovely choral piece called ‘Look at the World’ sung by a big choir and orchestra, conducted by John Rutter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDa-Mab4SoU
The Lord is my Shepherd – Requiem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f_0NgsWzfA
Star Carol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gxoGGTicNI
Live recording of I wish you Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8OFZyHnx4w
Live recording of Christmas Lullaby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy5zUGSd_fI
There are so many lovely Christmas choral pieces on John Rutter’s Christmas album – all can be found on You Tube - just search for John Rutter Christmas.
October
Nat King Cole
1919 – 1965
Who is he?
An American Jazz pianist and singer, recording over 100 hit songs. His style of music was Jazz, swing and blues. He also acted in films, on television and appeared in shows on Broadway.
Fascinating facts
July
Luciano Pavarotti
1935-2007
Who is he?
An Italian Opera singer who is considered one of the finest singers of the 20th century. Singing as a tenor he made numerous recordings of complete operas and performed to packed audiences all over the world. His clear voice brought enjoyment of opera music to lots of people. Opera music is a form of theatre that is almost entirely sung.
Fascinating facts
June
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr
1960-1970 performing together
Who were they?
An English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They began by playing in bars and clubs in Liverpool but found international fame with their modern musical style. They mixed skiffle, beat and rock and roll and even included elements of classical music in some of their songs. The Beatles are the best-selling band in history, with estimated sales of over 800 million records worldwide. They changed pop music forever and had a huge influence on culture in the UK and America.
There were 4 members:
John Lennon - lead singer, guitarist, songwriter.
Paul McCartney – bass guitarist and singer, songwriter.
George Harrison – lead guitarist and singer
Ringo Starr - drummer
Fascinating facts
Love me do
Help Yesterday
Twist and Shout Hey Jude
I wanna hold your hand Yellow Submarine
Octopus Garden Here comes the sun
Eleanor Rigby
May - JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685 – 1750)
Who was he?
Bach was a German organist, singer and composer in the Baroque period. Baroque music was the style of Western music written and played between 1600 and 1750. Bach wrote hundreds of pieces of music for harpsichords (an early piano), organ, strings (violins and cellos) orchestras and voice. His style was considered very mathematical and rhythmically precise.
Fascinating facts
April - ELLA FITZGERALD (1917 – 1996)
WHO WAS SHE?
Ella Fitzgerald was an American Jazz Singer. She was called ‘The Queen of Jazz’. Her musical career spanned over 60 years.
Jazz music originated from the African American community in the early 1900s. It combines folk music with swing rhythms and improvisation. Without Jazz we wouldn’t have Rock and Roll or Pop music.
Fascinating Facts
Quotes from Ella
‘The only thing better than singing, is more singing’.
‘Don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do, where there is love and inspiration I don’t think you can go wrong’.
‘It isn’t where you came from, it is where you are going that counts’.March - JOHN WILLIAMS
BORN 1932 -
WHO WAS HE?
American composer, conductor, and pianist.
WHAT DID HE DO?
Over six decades, he has composed some of the most popular, recognizable film scores in cinematic history, including those of the Star Wars series, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Superman, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the Indiana Jones series, the first two Home Alone films, Hook, the first two Jurassic Park films, Schindler's List, and the first three Harry Potter films.
Fascinating Facts
LINKS TO HIS WORK:
Live performance - Superman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBatxZ90wag&index=3&list=RDxe4ZuqZcoY4
Live performance – Imperial march from Star wars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQP-b30n2xo&index=6&list=RDxe4ZuqZcoY4
Live performance with John Williams conducting – Theme to Jurassic Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEZh88vz8b8&list=RDxe4ZuqZcoY4&index=10
Hedwig’s theme from Harry Potter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf-8WMI-7J4
Recording of music from E.T by John Williams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-qrMz-JAzo
Home alone theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbUeK1PP7-s&list=RDGbUeK1PP7-s&start_radio=1
Jaws
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDcrMScGaj8