A Study of the Heritage, Culture, and Works of
Antonín Dvořák, Edvard Grieg, and Jean Sibelius
Unit Lesson Plan: MU.68.H.1.1 – MU.912.H.1.1
By Laura Pinfield
For presentation at the Florida Music Educator’s Conference Session:
NGSSS, Literacy Standards and Mathematical Practices:
Oh My! It All Comes Down to Planning
~Orchestra Breakout Session~
January 8, 2014
Tampa, Florida
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Unit Lesson Plan: MU.68.H.1.1 – MU.912.H.1.1
Antonín Dvořák, Edvard Grieg, and Jean Sibelius
Author: Laura Pinfield
Date(s) 1/6/14
Courses: M/J Orchestras 1, 2, 3, 4 and Orchestras 1, 2, 3, 4, Honors 5 & 6
Grade Levels: 6-12
It is suggested that this lesson unit be paralleled with one or more additional unit plans.
This plan, which addresses MU.___.H.1.1 is broad and open-ended in order to serve the learning process
of orchestra students in any situation. The examples and resources are intended to serve as a springboard
for the students and teacher to gain knowledge about the function of music in various cultures and time
periods, and how culture is reflected through its music. The spiraling nature of the Next Generation
Sunshine State Standards allows the plan to encompass grades 6-12. The director may differentiate
instruction by customizing the plan to fit the needs of students.
The majority of the lesson is intended to be experiential by playing the music of Dvořák, Grieg, and
Sibelius. Over time, small segments of several classes may be dedicated to discovering the similarities
and differences in the composers’ heritages and cultures, and identifying Romantic Style Period
compositional characteristics. All of Dvořák’s, Grieg’s, and Sibelius’ pieces that are listed in the current
Florida Orchestra Association’s (FOA) Music Performance Assessment (MPA) List, levels ES through AS,
are included in this unit plan as suggestions for middle and high school orchestras of varying levels.
Additional examples of music for middle school are also included. One or more of these repertoire
selections may be sight-read, rehearsed in class for proficiency, or polished for a performance program.
As appropriate repertoire is discovered, it should be added to this plan.
Many additional Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) and Common Core State Standards
(CCSS) may be documented as this unit plan unfolds and takes shape with students. Use the Incomplete
Curriculum resource site to search and document: http://theincompletecurriculum.com/home/
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Abstract Essential Questions:
 What are some ways music is used in various cultures?
 Does the function of music change over time?
 How are cultural traditions reflected through music?
Other/additional open-ended questions:
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Concrete Essential Questions:
What do Antonin Dvořák, Edvard Grieg, and Jean Sibelius all have in common?
1. Folk songs are used in symphonic compositions of all three composers:
Dvořák: http://pianosociety.com/cms/index.php?section=910
Grieg: http://www.naimlabel.com/recording-grieg-folk-dances---songs.aspx
Sibelius:
http://cso.org/uploadedFiles/1_Tickets_and_Events/Program_Notes/ProgramNotes_Sibelius_Symphony2.p
df
2. Nationalistic http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/history-rom.htm
3. Romantic Style Period (1820-1900) These dates are commonly given, but are somewhat elastic from source
to source. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_music#Romantic_music
4. European
5.
6.
What are some things that only two of the three have in common?
1. Grieg and Sibelius are both from Nordic countries, Norway and Finland:
Nordic: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nordic
Maps of Norway and Finland (and Sweden):
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=map+of+norway+and+finland&id=6BF126811B8DBCC617482B19
8D5AF15A38B32C1A&FORM=IQFRBA
2. Dvořák’s and Grieg’s birth and death dates are only two and three years apart, respectively.
Grieg (June 15, 1843 - September 4, 1907)
http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/grieg.php
Dvořák (September 8, 1841 - May 1, 1904)
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/174804/Antonin-Dvorak
3.
What are some singularities?
1. Dvořák was from neither a Scandinavian nor a Nordic country, but was from Bohemia, which is currently
called the Czech Republic.
Czech Republic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Republic
2. Sibelius was a composer from the late Romantic Music Style Period, on the cusp of the 20th Century Music
Style Period:
Sibelius (December 8, 1865 - September 20, 1957)
3. Only Grieg is from a Scandinavian country.
Scandinavian Countries: http://geography.about.com/od/europemaps/tp/scandinavia.htm
4.
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Concrete Essential Questions, continued:
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What are some compositional characteristics of the Romantic Style Period of music composition?
1. http://www.classicalscore.com/romanticstyle.htm
2.
Other/additional questions with concrete, definitive answers:
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Benchmarks
Know
Understand
Do
MU.68.H.1.1
Describe the
functions of music
from various cultures
and time periods.
 Dvořák’s, Grieg’s, and
Sibelius’ origins of birth
 Romantic Style Period
Composers’ use of folk
songs in their symphonic
works
 Nationalism
 Similarities and Differences
among Dvořák, Grieg, and
Sibelius
 Composers who are
contemporaries set and follow
similar trends.
 Nationalism is a celebration of
a nation’s unique heritage,
culture, landscape, and
independence.
 The function of music is unique
to various cultures and time
periods
 Show on a map or explain
geographically the
locations of: Bohemia
(Currently the Czech
Republic), Norway, and
Finland.
MU.68.S.2.2
Transfer
performance
techniques from
familiar to unfamiliar
pieces.
 Romantic Style Period
dates and composers
 Romantic Style Period
compositional
characteristics
 In order to achieve an
authentic performance,
musicians must have
background knowledge about
the composer, the music style
period, specific compositional
characteristics, and
performance techniques to
execute the intended phrasing,
articulations, and overall effect.
 Play music composed by
Dvořák, Grieg, and
Sibelius, demonstrating
knowledge of the
composer’s intent.
Additional Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Know
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Understand
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Do
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Assessment Options (Formative and/or Summative):
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Questioning for comprehension
Class Discussion
Written
1. Dictation of rhythmic motive, music articulations, bowings, dynamics, etc.
2. Selected response, short answer, or extended response assessments
3. Students memorize and perform a melodic phrase from a work by Dvořák, Grieg, or Sibelius
Playing
1. Individually
2. Small groups
3. Whole ensemble
ESOL Strategies:
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Use advance/graphic organizers (Three-circle Venn Diagram, last page).
Continually monitor students’ comprehension.
Teach technical vocabulary supporting key concepts.
Provide contextual support through modeling, audio visuals, demonstrations, body language, and facial
expressions.
REPERTOIRE for Sight-reading, Classroom study, or Formal Performance:
Dvořák on the Florida Orchestra Association’s (FOA) Music Performance Assessment (MPA) List:
ES 1184 Symphony No. 9, “New World” Theme Dvorak / Allen HL
ES 1168 Slavonic Dance Dvorak / Meyer HE
ES 1214 Slavonic Dance No. 1 Dvorak / Story ALFR
ES 1123 New World Symphony: Largo Dvorak / Heilmann HP
DS 2163 Largo from Sym. No. 9 "New World" Dvorak/Dackow TEM
CS 4288 Themes from the New World Symphony Dvorak / Gruselle FJH
CS 4292 Three Slavonic Dances Dvorak / Isaac HE
CS 4145 Humoresque Dvorák / Longfield HL
CS 4244 Slavonic Dance Opus 46, No. 8 Dvorak / McCashin FJH
CS 4402 Czech Waltz Dvorak / Stroud LUD
CS 4161 Largo From The New World Symphony Dvorak/Del Borgo KM
BS 6206 Symphony No. 8 (Finale) Dvorak / Dackow LUD
BS 6107 Largo (from Dvorák's Symphony No. 9) Dvorak / McCashin FJH
BS 6286 Symphony No. 8 in G Major Dvorák / Parrish HE
BS 6016 Bagatelle (Op. 47, No. 5) Dvorak / Sieving HE
AS 8048 Legend Op. 59, No. 6 Dvorak/Sieving TEM
AF 9085 Slavonic Dances, Op. 46 Dvorak ANY Any 1 mvt.
AS 8083 Serenade, Op. 22 in E Major Dvorak ANY
Grieg on the FOA’s MPA List:
DS 2163 Largo from Sym. No. 9 "New World" Dvorak/Dackow TEM
DS 2152 It’s Grieg to Me Grieg / Frost KM
DS 2209 Norwegian Dance No. 2 Grieg / Story WB
CS 4147 In the Hall of the Mountain King Grieg / Monday WYNN
CS 4418 Lyric Pieces Grieg / McCashin FJH
CS 4335 Two Lyric Pieces Grieg / Hellem WJ
BS 6217 Two Norwegian Airs Grieg ANY Any 1 mvt.
BS 6100 In the Hall of the Mountain King Grieg / Frost KM
BS 6227 Wedding Day at Troldhaugen Grieg / Gruselle HE
BS 6091 Highlights from Peer Gynt Grieg / Hoffman HL Any 2 mvts.
BS 6093 Holberg Suite: Prelude Grieg / Isaac WYNN
BS 6094 Holberg Suite: Prelude Grieg / McBrien HE
BS 6167 Sarabande and Gavotte (from Holberg Suite) Grieg / McBrien HE
BS 6277 Peer Gynt (Set 1) Grieg / Rosenhaus MAST Any 3 mvts.
BS 6278 Peer Gynt (Set 2) Grieg / Rosenhaus MAST Any 3 mvts.
BS 6236 Norwegian Dance No. 2 Grieg / Ryden LUD
BS 6134 Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Op. 46 Grieg/Gruselle FJH
AS 8043 Holberg Suite, Op. 40 Grieg ANY
AS 8110 Two Norwegian Airs Grieg ANY
AS 8050 Lyric Suite, Op. 54 Grieg ANY Any 2 mvts.
AS 8041 Highlights from Peer Gynt Grieg / Hoffman HL
Sibelius on the FOA’s MPA List:
ES 1064 Finlandia Sibelius / Phillippe WB
DF 3007 Finlandia Sibelius / Meyer HE
CS 4020 Andante Festivo Sibelius ANY
AS 8067 Rakastava, Op. 14 Sibelius ANY
AS 8126 Romance in C Sibelius ANY
Additional music not on the FOA’s MPA list:
Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, arranged by Jack Bullock Grade 1, Alfred Music
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http://www.alfred.com/Products/Finlandia--00-31507.aspx
Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg, arranged by Del Borgo
http://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/eprintparts.jsp?pepnum=2480339E
Holberg Suite by Edvard Grieg, arranged by Christina Hans,
http://www.alfred.com/Products/Prelude-to-the-Holberg-Suite--00-33666S.aspx
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RECORDINGS:
Various Romantic Era composers: http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.558155-56
Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major Op. 43 (1902), Mvt. 3 and 4 (Leonard Bernstein)
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Jean+Sibelius&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=9411327C5BE4F0D2B3909411327C5BE4F0D2B390
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This unit plan is only one of many ways to address these benchmarks.
MU.68.H.1.1 Describe the functions of music from various cultures and time periods.
MU.912.H.1.1 Investigate and discuss how a culture's traditions are reflected through its music.
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