Year 4 - Music
Inspired by Earth Choir
Compose and create: cosmic programme music
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this optional unit, pupils are introduced to the term, programme music. They study the programme music symphonic work, Deep Field, by Eric Whitacre and use this as inspiration for composing, considering structuring around the golden ratio and the use of small music ideas called golden bricks.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to create and combine small vocal musical ideas (golden bricks) based around themes to structure a vocal piece.
Key Notes
- Programme music is music that has been inspired by something non-musical. For example, a story or a piece of artwork.
- Deep Field composed by Eric Whitacre is a symphonic work in four movements that is an example of programme music.
- A piece of music can be inspired and built from one small musical idea. Eric Whitacre calls this a 'golden brick'.
- Music can be mapped as we listen to help us make sense of the musical journey and its structure.
Vocabulary To Learn
- programme music: instrumental music that aims to represent something non-musical, such as a story, picture, scene, idea or emotion
- musical map: lines, shapes, colours and symbols that represent the flow of the music
- golden brick: Eric Whitacre's term to describe a small musical idea that is the core building block on which the whole piece is built
- structure: the way the music is organised
- choral: an adjective relating to music written for or performed by a choir
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- A symphonic work only uses instruments.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Programme music is music that has been inspired by something non-musical. For example, a story or a piece of artwork. Deep Field composed by Eric Whitacre is a symphonic work in four movements that is an example of programme music.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'programme music'
instrumental music that aims to represent something non-musical, such as a story, picture, scene, idea or emotion.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: A symphonic work only uses instruments. Correction: Whilst a symphony traditionally only used instruments of the orchestra, composers over time have diversified and introduced voices into symphonic works.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 4 Music guide library.