Forbidden Flutes School Show
Using examples from the standard classical repertoire (Mozart Sinfonia
Concertante and Bach Double Violin Concerto – transcribed
for two flutes and piano), the Forbidden Flutes will demonstrate how jazz
and popular music finds it’s roots in this much older tradition. This
will first be illustrated by performing passages from these works with consecutive
jazz selections that share parallel techniques which will be apparent to
young and old audiences alike. Also, using a recording of a current
popular piece which incorporates a familiar classical tune, we will draw
these parallels.
Forbidden Flutes will also show how the lines between what can be classified as jazz, popular, classical or otherwise, have become blurred in the past few decades. We will perform a jazz-inspired classical work composed by Chick Corea for the students which clearly bridges all genre gaps.
Our performance becomes increasingly participatory for the kids as we begin then to demonstrate how simple improvisatory techniques work. We will first perform a rendition of Heart and Soul , a piece probably many grade students have heard, with several improvised variations, followed by an original piece by Liesa Norman, Blue Basement, to which the kids can then add their own percussive effects. The hip term for this technique today is “beat-box”.
Lastly, we will finish with a performance of another classical work to tie these ideas back together. The final piece will be Doppler’s Rigoletto Fantasy, which is in standard theme and variation form. We will explain to the students how this form is the 18th century’s version of improvisation. Finally, we will help them hear this by teaching them to sing the two famous tunes from this opera in which this piece is based, and then allow them to sing along as we play the variations.
School Show Format
Introduction: Liesa mentions fusion band experience, Laura mentions yoga experience, Jeff mentions opera expertise)
Laura discusses how jazz and popular music finds its roots in classical music as illustrated by:
Mozart Concerto in f Major for two pianos (trans. for 2 flutes and
piano) 1st mvt. Exposition/ Schocker, Three Dances 1st mvt.
&
Bach Double Violin Concerto (trans. for 2 flutes and piano) 3rd mvt.
First four bars/Schocker 3rd mvt. Last eight bars
Liesa discusses how popular music even quotes from classical music:
Play tape of pop tune with Chopin reference
Play Chopin 2 flute/piano arrangement of other “E flat Major Nocturne”
Laura discusses how the lines have blurred between genres in the twentieth century as illustrated by:
Corea Addendum from bar 253 to the end
Jeff discusses how improvisation is a key element of jazz and sometimes popular music. He also mentions that Baroque performers used this creative tool.
Improvise over “Body and Soul”
Liesa discusses how she has incorporated jazz and classical techniques into her composing and instructs kids on how to add beat box effects to:
Norman Blue Basement with beat box
Jeff discusses how the theme and variation form is a through-composed improvisation used by classical composers and performers and instruct kids on how to sing “Dona Mobile” and “Caro Nome”.
Doppler Rigoletto Fantasy bar 34-108 and bar 145 to the end