Try It Yourself!
Work with a partner to create a short “opera scene.” One person will be the COMPOSER and one will be the LIBRETTIST.
1. In this scene, imagine that two characters disagree about something. Work together to decide who the characters are and what the disagreement is about.
2. The LIBRETTIST will write the words that each character says. Consider having each character tell how they feel, why they feel that way, and what actions they plan to take.
3. The COMPOSER will write musical directions for how each line should be sung to express the emotions in the scene. For instance, the Composer might write “fast and loud, with a very high note on the last word” to show that the character is angry.
Here are some musical options the Composer can choose from:
Dynamics (loud or quiet) Tempo (fast or slow) Pitch/Melody (high or low notes) Rhythm (steady, syncopated, bouncy, unpredictable, etc.)
4. Practice your scene and share! Talk about how each pair’s musical choices helped express the emotions in the scene. How did the Composer and Librettist need to work together?
Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration & Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas Reading Literature: Key Ideas and Details Music – Creating: How do musicians generate creative ideas? Social Awareness: Perspective-Taking Self-Awareness: Identifying Emotions
In an opera, the music helps to tell the story.
When you watch a movie or cartoons, the music is really important! It gives a clue when something scary might happen, it lets us know when people are falling in love, and it makes a funny scene even funnier! The same is true in opera! The music amplifies the emotions, making them more dramatic. The music might highlight physical actions, such as drinking water or walking slowly. It can help set the scene such as a spooky forest or a regal palace. Some operas have repeated musical phrases called motifs that represent ideas like jealousy or Springtime. These motifs give the audience a hint about the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters.
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