VII
Title: “The Jazz Man” from Friday Afternoons, Op. 7
Unison treble voices with piano
Composer: Benjamin Britten
Text: Eleanor Farjeon
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes, 1936, 19388
Background Information:
From http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/britten.html: The renowned twentieth century
English composer, Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) composed major works in all mediums.
His operas include Peter Grimes, The Rape of Lucretia, Albert Herring, The Beggar’s
Opera, The Little Sweep, Death in Venice, Gloriana, and The Turn of the Screw. Many of
his works were written for the Aldeburgh Festival, which he and his lifetime companion,
Peter Pears, founded in 1948. These include St. Nicholas, The Young Person’s Guide to
the Orchestra, Spring Symphony the War Requiem and his closing masterpiece, String
Quartet no. 3.
From www.treblechorus.com/content/main/recordings.199610.htm: Britten wrote this
collection for his teaching the boys of Clive House at the Prestatyn School on “friday
afternoons”. A recording of this entire collection, sung by The Treble Choir of New
England, can be ordered at this site.
Musical Elements:
Meter: 2/2
Tempo: Quick, with fire
Form: Through Composed: Piano Intro, A (a/piano interjection b c d d1 d11) Piano
Interlude B (a/piano interjection b c d e) Piano chord
Tonality: A∫ do with modulating phrases to B∫, C, and D
Phrasing and Harmony: Marked in the score
Dynamics mf, f, ff
Vocal Technique Elements:
Range: e∫ – f1
Tessitura: a- e1
Pitch set: Melody - A∫ do: Fi1 S1 L1T1 D R M F S L
Rhythm: ç, Ç, ∂, Î , ß , Í
Harmony: piano accompaniment creates some dissonant harmonies along with
traditional functions
Text: Fun description of a one-man Jazz band by Eleanor Farjeon.
Elements Related to Teaching:
Appropriate Grade Level: Advanced treble 5th – 8th
Difficult Sections: modulating phrases, octave leaps, and articulation of diction
throughout.
Possible Teaching sequence:
Objective: To perform modulation using movable Do and spirited articulation of
the words.
Warm-up activities need to include half-step preparation and articulation
exercises.
Motivation: Explain that students will be changing keys or modulating as they
sing from hand signs. Teacher uses right hand to sign d r t1 d l=s in left hand, left
hand continues s fi s l s s s l t d1 l = s in right hand, right hand continues, etc.
Procedure: Students clap and say rhythm patterns from overhead derived from
score and then sing phrases from sol-fa marked in score on overhead. (Divide this
into two or three practice sessions.) Speak words with accents and dynamic
markings. Practice octave leaps using sol-fa in correct rhythm. Add words. Add
the accompaniment.
This piece would need 4-6 15-minute rehearsals to learn.
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