7th Grade World War II Era Music Webquest
Paul Hindemith & Dmitri Shostakovich
Paul Hindemith & Dmitri Shostakovich
Welcome
This web quest is to introduce 7th Grade to two World War II era composers: Paul Hindemith & Dmitri Shostakovich
Introduction
The rise of the Nazis in Germany and the Bolsheviks in Russia created tension and hardship for artists, authors, and musicians living in those countries. These parties dictated what could or could not be written and/or performed thus blocking any type of artistic freedom and expression. The lives of the artists who tried to go against what was being dictated were literally putting themselves in grave danger.
Task
You are a television reporter in 1937 whose director has given you an assignment to inform the world about 2 composers: one from Germany and the other from Russia. These composers have been told by their government to write their music in a specific way or be sent to concentration camps or, worse, put to death. Yet, these musicians are willing to put their lives on the line for the sake of artistic freedom. From the information you gather, you are to put together a 5 to 8 minute story (PowerPoint presentation) about these composers and their works.
Process
Supplies needed: note taking guides, pencils and one or more of the following: crayons, colored pencils, markers.
- You will use the web sites listed below to help you gather information. Please use the web site links in order as they appear on the screen. You will use the information you gather to make your presentation. The information will also be the content of a final test.
- You will have a note taking guide to help you narrow the information. Be sure to read through the note guides carefully first before jumping right in to the web sites. And, please feel free to take extra notes as you may discover more information that you may want to use for your presentation.
- In a couple of areas on the note guide, you will be instructed to write and/or draw while you are listening. It is important that have your supplies with you at all times when you come to Music.
- Presentations will begin on Friday, December 18th.
- The Note Guides will be graded in class.
- The final test will be taken on Thursday, December 17th.
- You may begin - and have a great quest!
Paul Hindemith
Government Background
Please use Part 1 of the Hindemith Note Guide and the links below to learn the history of the Nazi Party in Germany.
Rise of the Nazis (National Socialist German Worker's Party)
Nazi Party - History.com
You do not have to click on any of the "Web Links" on this web site to acquire your answers.
Questions #1 - 6
Nazification of Germany
Question #7
Nazi Approved Music
Questions #8 - 9
Please use Part 1 of the Hindemith Note Guide and the links below to learn the history of the Nazi Party in Germany.
Rise of the Nazis (National Socialist German Worker's Party)
Nazi Party - History.com
You do not have to click on any of the "Web Links" on this web site to acquire your answers.
Questions #1 - 6
Nazification of Germany
Question #7
Nazi Approved Music
Questions #8 - 9
Hindemith Biography and His Symphony
Please use Part 2 of the Hindemith Note Guide and the links below to learn about Hindemith and Mathis Der Maler Symphony.
Music and the Holocaust: Hindemith's Relationship with the Nazi Party & Mathis der Maler Symphony Notes
Los Angeles Symphony Notes
Part 2A Questions #1, 2, 3
Part 2B Questions #1, 2, 5, & 7
Mathis der Maler Symphony Program Notes & Paintings of Mathis Grunewald
(Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the paintings.)
Part 2A Questions #4 - 6
Part 2B Questions #1, 2, 4, 6, & 7
Listening Portion of Mathis der Maler Symphony
Listen to the piece by clicking on the below video.
Please use Part 3 of the Hindemith Note Guide while listening to the piece.
The first movement begins at the beginning. The 3 angel themes are at the following times:
1st angel - 1:36
2nd angel - 2:57
3rd angel 3:46
The second movement begins at 9:04.
The third movement begins at 14:10.
Listen to the piece by clicking on the below video.
Please use Part 3 of the Hindemith Note Guide while listening to the piece.
The first movement begins at the beginning. The 3 angel themes are at the following times:
1st angel - 1:36
2nd angel - 2:57
3rd angel 3:46
The second movement begins at 9:04.
The third movement begins at 14:10.
Additional Links for Hindemith Biographical Information
Dmitri Shostakovich
Government Background
Please use Part 1 of the Shostakovich Note Guide and the links below to learn the history of the Bolshevik reign in Russia.
What is the Bolshevik Revolution?
Questions #1 - 2
Leadership Under Stalin
Questions #3 - 4
Please use Part 1 of the Shostakovich Note Guide and the links below to learn the history of the Bolshevik reign in Russia.
What is the Bolshevik Revolution?
Questions #1 - 2
Leadership Under Stalin
Questions #3 - 4
Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5
Please use Part 2 of the Shostakovich Note Guide and the videos below to discover the question of "Why?" to Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. The videos are taken from one continuous show, so they start and stop abruptly. You may have to see the next video to finish a question on your note guide. Please read the biography of Shostakovich after watching the 3rd video.
Please use Part 2 of the Shostakovich Note Guide and the videos below to discover the question of "Why?" to Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. The videos are taken from one continuous show, so they start and stop abruptly. You may have to see the next video to finish a question on your note guide. Please read the biography of Shostakovich after watching the 3rd video.
Video 1
This video has been blocked for copyright reasons. We will be watching it in class, but the sites below may also be a source for you.
Explanations and Listening Opportunities for all of the movements: Analysis by Gerard Schwarz
This link has 4 videos which correspond to each of the 4 movements of the piece. The links for the videos are located on the left side of the page. Part 1 is for the 1st movement, Part 2 for the 2nd movement, Part 3 for the 3rd movement, and Part 4 for the 4th movement.
This link has 4 videos which correspond to each of the 4 movements of the piece. The links for the videos are located on the left side of the page. Part 1 is for the 1st movement, Part 2 for the 2nd movement, Part 3 for the 3rd movement, and Part 4 for the 4th movement.
Historical information for each of the movements: PBS page for Keeping Score with Michael Tilson Thomas.
You will find answers here for all of the videos and movements.
General information about the symphony: Keeping Score with Michael Tilson Thomas
This website has 6 boxes you may choose from to learn about each movement and the general background about the symphony. You will find a lot of information in this website for your final project.
2:30 minute video about the piece: Michael Tilson Thomas.
You will find answers here for all of the videos and movements.
General information about the symphony: Keeping Score with Michael Tilson Thomas
This website has 6 boxes you may choose from to learn about each movement and the general background about the symphony. You will find a lot of information in this website for your final project.
2:30 minute video about the piece: Michael Tilson Thomas.
1st Movement Information: Music History Crash Course on the piece
Please watch this video until the end of the explanation of the 1st movement.
1st Movement Written Information: Program notes on the piece by the Philadelphia Orchestra
You will need to go to p. 10 to get information.
Click here to listen to the the 1st movement: Moscow City Symphony.
Video 2
Video 3
This video has been blocked for copyright reasons. We will be watching it in class.
Video 4
Video 5
Video 6
Additional Links for Shostakovich Biographical Information
Evaluation
You will be graded on 3 things: Note Guides, News Story, and Final Test
Note Guides: Due throughout the process of the assignment
Note Guides are divided into sections with points possible listed for each section. We will grade them in class.
News Stories: Due Friday, December 18th
News Stories are to be done in the form of a oral presentation that is to incorporate PowerPoint in it.
The stories are to have/do the following information:
The PowerPoint presentation should enhance the news story. It should have/do the following:
Final Test: Thursday, December 17th
The test will be taken on line. It is worth 40 points. It will cover information from the web quest as well as notes taken in class prior to the start of the quest.
Note Guides: Due throughout the process of the assignment
Note Guides are divided into sections with points possible listed for each section. We will grade them in class.
News Stories: Due Friday, December 18th
News Stories are to be done in the form of a oral presentation that is to incorporate PowerPoint in it.
The stories are to have/do the following information:
- 5 political facts about each composer's country and how its rule affected the composers (and all artists)
- 5 facts about each composer
- 5 facts about each piece that you learned on your web quest
- 5 opinions about each piece using music elements vocabulary
- 3 statements that compare and contrast Hindemith and Shostakovich - their lives and their works
- 5 - 8 minutes in length
- Organized in logical sequence
- Accurate information
- Loud speaking voice, good posture, good eye contact, and good pronunciation
The PowerPoint presentation should enhance the news story. It should have/do the following:
- 8 slides (includes the title slide)
- Eye catching/Neat
- Creative use of animations, art, sound effects, pictures, and music
Final Test: Thursday, December 17th
The test will be taken on line. It is worth 40 points. It will cover information from the web quest as well as notes taken in class prior to the start of the quest.
FINAL TEST
Conclusion
Thank you for informing the world about these 2 composers who put their life on the line for arts sake. I hope you have an appreciation of their life and works and for the freedom that you have to use art and music to express yourself - and listen
to, look at, and read.
I hope you enjoyed the quest!
Thank you for informing the world about these 2 composers who put their life on the line for arts sake. I hope you have an appreciation of their life and works and for the freedom that you have to use art and music to express yourself - and listen
to, look at, and read.
I hope you enjoyed the quest!