Literature & Music
Dear All
Our SIG is not only concerned with literature but also with other forms of media and artistic manifestation. I personally see very close connections between literature, music, painting, film and also video games.
This is the space to explore connections between literature and Music.
Please, do share with us your views on it and also classroom ideas and songs you know can be interesting to use.
Looking forward to reading your tips :)
Cheers - Chris
Dear Hania et al
One might add the 'goblin footfall' of Beethoven's 5th in 'Howard's End'.
There are many poems by Peter Porter: 'A Toccata of Muffat's', 'Schumann Sings Schubert', 'Non Piangere, Liu', A Brahms Intermezzo', 'A Scarlatti onata',
'L'Incoronazione di Poppea', 'The Violin's Obstinacy', .... and others...of all the modern poets, he was the one who wrote most about music.
And as this is the Literature, MEDIA and Cultural Studies SIG Forum, then under 'Media' we can include all kinds of music. One of my favourite activities comes from Tim Murphey's book 'Music & Song' (OUP). Here one plays the students a piece of instrumental music - something they don't know, but something with character and a repeated theme, which may be played with in different ways during the piece - and tell them it is the theme music to a film. They have to decide what kind of film it is, where, when set, who the main characters are and what the storyline is. I have used guitar music by the late great Michael Hedges (a piece called 'Ragamuffin') very successfully, and the piece dedicated to Hedges by the brilliant French guitarist Pierre Bensusan called 'So Long Michael' - they both provide stunning results. Hours of discussion.
Best
David A. Hill
Coordinator
LMCS SIG
Dear Hania, David and All
Oh, this is just fantastic. Great ideas and very useful references :)
Thanks a lot.
Keep they coming everyone!
Chris
Hi Chris and all,
Thanks for the tips and info, I love teaching with literature and music, generally what I do is to ask my students to look for a song that would match the personality/desires/wishes/expectations/,etc of a character from the books we read. They have to give the reasons that support their choices and mark the part of the song and the quote of the book on which the relationship has been made.
Best!
Pilar
Hi Chris
Have you already come across Vikram Seth's An Equal Music? One of the most evocative combinations of the written word and music I know.
Or Ann Patchett's Bel Canto about the transformative power of music in the middle of a political siege?
Or Lloyd Jones's Here at the End of the World We Learn to Dance about the way music and dance give new sense to life?
If we help our students hear the music of words, the next step can be to read the words inspired by music and see the pictures created by the music... and so on...
Cheers - Hania