Vol. 2 Issue No. 8
April, 2016
Lifelong Listeners Newsletter
This month's newsletter is all about opera. Many people think that they know nothing about opera, and are surprised to find out that many of the tunes they recognize from commercials, movies, and TV shows are actually from operas.  This month we will look at familiar Italian opera music and learn a bit about the composers and about opera itself.  Happy Listening!

Music 101
Music 101 Events! spring-raingear.jpg
 
4/10 (Sun.), 4:45 P.M. - Group Performance Class Our last group performance class this spring!  Faculty guitarist Chris Schoelen will perform.  Don't miss your last chance to practice performing for an audience before the June recitals! 
Live Concerts! little-purple-flower.jpg
(Use this section with Listener Worksheet #1 and Listener Worksheet#2  )

*This symbol indicates that Music 101 faculty will perform in this concert!
 
*4/13 (Wed.), 8 P.M. - Christopher Schoelen in Recital (Boston) Hear faculty guitarist Chris Schoelen perform his master's degree recital.  The concert will take place at NEC's Williams Hall (290 Huntington Ave. Boston, MA 02115).   
 
4/17 (Sun.), 3 P.M. - Beethoven Society (Melrose) Hear a FREE concert and support a great cause! Admission is free but donations at the door support the Society's music scholarship fund for local students. The concert will take place at Melrose Highlands Congregational Church (355 Franklin Street).
 
*4/21 (Thurs), 12 P.M. - Veritas Ensemble (Cambridge) Hear faculty member Joshua Garvey perform 17th century Italian music with the ensemble.  This FREE concert will take place in the Faculty Room of University Hall at Harvard University (University Hall Cambridge, MA 02138). 
Listen Online! yellow_rumped_flycatcher.jpg
(Use this section with Listener Worksheet #1  and Listener Worksheet#2 )
 
Overture
Gioachino Rossini: William Tell Overture Finale (Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra) An overture is an instrumental work that happens at the beginning of an opera, before the singers come onto the stage.  It lets the audience know the opera is starting and sets the mood, sometimes even giving hints about what will happen in the story.  This famous music from the William Tell Overature symbolizes a battle that happens during the story.  Can you hear the trumpets signaling the soldiers and the galloping horses they ride on?
 
Aria
Giacomo Puccini: "O Mio Babbino Caro" from Gianni Schicchi (Anna Netrebko, soprano) An aria is a solo piece from an opera. These solo pieces give the singers a chance to show off their beautiful voices while also helping to tell the story.  In this aria, a soprano (the highest type of female singing voice) begs her father to let her marry the man she is in love with.
 
Aria
Giuseppe Verdi: "La Donna e Mobile" from Rigoletto (Juan Diego Florez, tenor) Arias aren't always about serious topics like love. Some arias are funny. Here a tenor (the highest natural male singing voice) sings about his frustration with women always changing their minds.

Chorus 
Giuseppe Verdi: "Anvil Chorus" from Il Trovatore (Hungarian State Opera House Chorus) Every part of an opera story is told through music, so characters don't always sing solos. Sometimes they sing duets or trios, and sometimes even whole choruses sing together. It just depends on what is happening in the story. Here a chorus sings as they go about their work.  Notice how their hammers become the percussion in the music. 
In This Issue
Composers & Artists
(Use this section with ListenerWorksheet #3 )
 
 
 

Other Links
(Use this section with Listener Worksheet # 4)
 
 
 
Famous Instrumental Music from Operas
 
How to Earn Listener Points!
You can earn Listener Points by exploring this newsletter, completing worksheets, and redeeming them for great prizes!  Here is how:

 

1) Download Listener Worksheets from our website or pick up copies at the studio. 

 

2) Go to a concert!  See our "Live Concerts" section for ideas. Turn in your program for 10 points.  Turn in Listener Worksheet #1 or
Listener Worksheet #2
about something you heard for 10 additional points. 

 

3) Listen online!  Listen to one of the videos in the "Listen Online" section and turn in Listener Worksheet #1 or ListenerWorksheet #2 for 10 points.

4) Click on a link in the "Composers & Artists" section. Turn in Listener Worksheet #3   for 10 points.
  
5) Click on a link in the "Other Links" section.  Turn in Listener Worksheet #4 for 10 p oin ts.    

6) Look up any music topic that interests you.  Turn in
Listener Worksheet #5
for 10 points.