Programme Music
Peter and the Wolf
Starter- Dynamics
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Fortissimo
Forte
Mezzo forte
Mezzo piano
Piano
Pianissimo
Crescendo
Diminuendo
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Very loud
Loud
Moderately loud
Moderately quiet
Quietly
Very Quiet
Gradually louder
Gradually quieter
Tempo
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Presto
Allegro
Moderato
Andante
Largo
Accelerando
Rallentando
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Very fast
Fast
Medium pace
Walking pace
Slow
Gradually faster
Gradually slower
Aim of Lesson
To identify and use Italian musical terms
to describe music
 To show how composers use instrumental
timbre and melody to create characters
and storylines in music
 To understand the term Programme Music
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Peter and the Wolf
Name
the instrument for
each character.
Say why you think the
composer chose the
instrument (timbre).
The Bird
The flute has a bird like timbre- it is high
pitched and sounds like a bird singing.
 It can play fast runs and swoop from high
to low quickly, suggesting flight.
 Solo instrument for one character
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The Duck
The oboe has a nasal timbre- it sounds a
little like a duck quacking.
 The melody stays within a few notes
suggesting the waddling or paddling
duck.
 Solo instrument.
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The Cat
The clarinet has a warm and velvety
sound in its lower register and a sharp and
screechy sound in its upper. This can
suggest the cat lounging around, or
chasing the bird up a tree.
 Solo instrument.
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Grandfather
The bassoon has a creaky, grumpy timbre
to it.
 The melody is andante in tempo
suggesting that grandfather is not as agile
as other characters.
 Solo instrument.
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The Hunters
The Hunters’ melody is played by the woodwind
section (more than one hunter).
 It moves through other instruments such as
brass, suggesting their different characters and
the importance of the hunters..
 It suggests that they are creeping through the
forest (or stalking prey).
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Hunters Guns
The hunters’ guns are played by the
timpani and bass drums.
 They make a loud bang and because they
are played very fast (presto) they sound
like all the hunters are shooting at once.
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Peter
The strings play Peters’ theme.
 The melody suggests that Peter is happy
and mischievous.
 The strings can play high and low notes at
various tempi and dynamics, describing
Peter’s actions accurately.
 Using more than one instrument for Peter
shows his strength and courage.
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The Wolf
The wolf’s theme is played by three
French horns. Their timbre can be brassy
suggesting menace.
 Three French horns suggest the strength
of the wolf’s character.
 The melody is in a minor key and is
sinister which suggests danger.
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Sound Painting
 Composers
use timbre and
melody to “paint” a picture or
story in sound.
 What the instruments play and
how the melody is altered moves
the story along without the need
for a narrator.
What’s happening?
Name the characters and what you think is
happening in the story.
How does the use of the instruments
suggest this?
1)
4)
2)
5)
3)
Answers
1) Wolf and the bird.
The wolf is snapping at the bird who is
circling above his head.
You can hear the French horns “biting” at
the flute.
2) The cat is climbing the tree.
You can hear the pitch of the clarinet rise
as the cat climbs. The melody stops rising
when the cat settles on the branch.
Answers
3) The Duck has been eaten by the Wolf.
You can tell this by the horns at the
beginning and then a sad (minor key)
melody afterwards on the oboe.
4) The Grandfather and the Cat.
Both the bassoon and clarinet are playing
at the same time.
Answers
5) Peter, the Wolf and the Hunters all
appear in this clip. Later you can hear the
hunters’ melody being played with the cat
(clarinet) and bird (flute).
Peter’s tune is being played by strings and
brass showing he has captured the Wolf
and is marching triumphantly with the
hunters (drums).
Extension Activity
What instruments would you suggest for
the following and why?:
 A) Elephant
B) Snake C) Hippo
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Plenary
Write
a definition of
Programme Music using
the terms “sound
painting” and “timbre”.