Unit 8
Unit 8
The USA: Music and Musicians
Listen to History of Gospel Music (up to Roots of Gospel Music) on http://www.buzzle.com/articles/history-of-gospel-music.html and answer the questions.
1. What kind of music is gospel?
2. What does the word ‘gospel’ mean?
3. What is the theme for all gospel songs?
4. What genres of music can it be expressed in?
Read the text about American musicians and fill in the table:
Composer’s name
Born in…
Lived in …
Kind of music he wrote
What you think of his music
Irving Berlin (1888-1989) wrote popular music and Broadway show tunes. From Alexander's Rag Time Band written in 1911, God Bless America in 1918, Puttin' on the Ritz in 1930, Easter Parade in 1933, White Christmas in 1942, There's No Business Like Show Business in 1946, Steppin' Out With My Baby in 1948, through the 1950 show Call Me Madam with Ethel Merman. He wrote the scores for 19 Broadway shows and 18 Hollywood films. He wrote hundreds of popular songs sung by all the greats of the first half of the twentieth century and many more since then.
It's not completely clear exactly where he was born. Records aren't very clear. A number of places are listed including in (or near) Mogilyov, Russia (now part of Belarus), Temum, Russia and Tolochin, Byelorussia. Many biographies simply put "birthplace unknown".
(watch his White Christmas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9QLn7gM-hY)
George Gershwin (1899-1937) His parents were Russian immigrants who came to America. George grew up in Brooklyn, but moved to Hollywood and lived there for 5 years or so. He died in 1937 when he was only 38, but is remembered for creating a new style of music for America in a time when only European composers were taken seriously. But George combined several existing styles from around the world to create his melting pot of American music. He's an amazing person! He's known as a composer of jazz / showtunes. Together with his brother, Ira, they wrote many famous songs in the 1920's and 30's. The most famous aria from the opera Porgy and Bess, Summertime, is well known to music-lovers. (watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYlIHI35oak )
Elmer Bernstein was born on April 4, 1922, in New York City. He was the only child of Jewish Eastern European immigrant parents, Edward and Selma, and much doted upon. Although his father was a high school English teacher, both parents were extremely interested in the arts. His goal was to become a concert pianist, and he gave his first recital at 15 in New York's Steinway Hall.
Bernstein was called for military service in World War II. After his discharge from the army, he unsuccessfully tried to find work as a composer, so he returned to giving concerts as a pianist. His luck turned in the late 1940s, when he was asked to write music for a United Nations Radio show called Sometime Before Morning. He arrived in Hollywood in 1950 during its so-called "Golden Age." Bernstein proved himself not only a master at conforming to myriad musical genres, but also at making them his own. His score for 1960's The Magnificent Seven (also nominated for an Oscar) became the new prototype for Westerns, and its theme became familiar to millions as the signature melody for Marlboro cigarettes. Among Bernstein's many notable earlier movies were Sweet Smell of Success (1957), God's Little Green Acre (1958), Walk on the Wild Side (1962, title song nominated for an Oscar), and True Grit (1969). He also did a great deal of television work.
When Bernstein died on August 18, 2004, in Ojai, California, the film industry lost one of its most enduring lights.
(listen to the tune from The Magnificent Seven on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLTHW0ZwK7U )
Talk to a friend about these composers and their music. Express your opinion.
Read some facts about music in the USA and answer the questions that follow:
Music in the USA
Different kinds of music come from different parts of the United States. The Deep South is the home of Blues music. Blues comes from the songs of the black slaves. They sang about their hard life. New Orleans is famous for traditional jazz. Nashville, Tennessee is the capital of country music.
Country music comes from the folk songs of Britain and Ireland. The first white settlers took these songs to America.
Detroit is the home of another kind of black music - Motown. Detroit had a big car
industry and a lot if black people worked there. Motown means 'Motor Town'. Soul
music comes from Motown.
In the 60-s and 70-s West Coast music started in California. This is bright happy music. There are lots of songs about surfing. The Beach Boys were a famous West Coast band.
New York is famous for modern jazz. There are lots of jazz clubs in Greenwich Village. New York is also the centre of musical theatre. Broadway has a lot of famous theatres.
Where is the home of Blues music?
What is Greenwich Village famous for?
What does Motown mean?
What music comes from Motown?
Where are songs about surfing popular?
What is Broadway famous for?
What city is the centre of musical theatre?
Talk to a friend about American music styles and say which one you like most and why.