| THE THREE "B's" - BACH, BEETHOVEN AND BRAHMS | ||
|
Be a Music Investigator!
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
Johann Sebastian Bach |
Ludwig van Beethoven |
Johannes Brahms |
Instructions | The Questions | The Internet Resources | The Big Question | Conclusion |
Top for Navigation
Teacher Page
Rubrics
Instructions
Use the Internet Links below to uncover some "Treasures" about three famous Classical composers - Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Johannes Brahms. After finding all the answers, move to the Big Question to bring your ideas together in a broader understanding of the topic.
Because you will be gathering information from a variety of sources about all three composers: the times that they lived in, the contemporaries who influenced the music world during their lives, their background, country of birth, etc., I suggest that you print out the Questions, and write down the answers to make it easier for you to keep track of where you are.
Three composers whose last names started with "B". What else did these composers have in common? How did their lives and their music differ? What was it like to live when they lived? How did their environment or station in life affect their music?
Read through the questions below and explore the Resource List to find the right information to answer each question. Each Webpage holds the answer to one of the questions.
When you have found all the historical & musical treasures requested, please go to the section called Big Question to bring your ideas together in a broader understanding of the topic. This part will require you to use a graphic organizer to share what you have learned.
Questions
- What two German composers were born the same year?
- Were Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart contemporaries?
- How did people during the times that the 3 B's lived, communicate?
- Beethoven wrote his greatest works in spite of which physical handicap?
- For a brief period of three months in 1787, Beethoven received piano
lessons from what Viennese composer?
- How many children did Beethoven have?
- Which composer had six children,
only two of which survived infancy; his early death left the family in dire
financial straits?
- Which composer is often referred to by musicians as a "giant straddling
two styles": the Classical and the Romantic?
- Which of these composers met Franz Liszt, the Hungarian composer?
- Which composer died in a different country than he was born?
- Where
was each composer born?
- How many symphonies did Ludwig Van Beethoven compose?
- Which composer lived the longest?
- Did any or all of the composers enjoy success in their lifetime?
- How many children did Bach have?
- Brahms was hailed as the predecessor of what composer?
Internet Resource List
- `The
European Stage - Europe in the 18th Century
- Early Composers - Research on early composers
- German Composers - List of German Composers
- Classics for Kids - To help kids learn about Classical Music
- Biography of Johann Sebastian Bach - from Classics for Kids Website
- Major Composers - links to 70 major composers
- Eras Online - Classical Music - Basics of the era of Classical Music
- Eras Online - Baroque Music - Basics of the era of Baroque Music
- Johannes Brahms Website - the Johannes Brahms WebSource.
- Essentials of Music - Brahms' life and works
- Classics for Kids - Composers Timeline
- Composer Link at William and Mary Cook Music Library, Indiana Wesleyan University
- Essentials of Music: Classical Era - Beethoven - includes listening examples.
Search Engines:
Google - a premier search engine with access to images
Yahooligans - Web Searching for kids- Ask Jeeves for Kids - fast, easy and kid-friendly way for kids to find answers.
Searching Tips:
Pandia's 17 Recommendations
THE BIG QUESTIONThink over the answers to the questions above and other facts you've learned while exploring the Websites. Then put all this learning together by creating a Venn Diagram comparing Ludwig van Beethoven with either Johann Sebastian Bach or Johannes Brahms. Choose at least five (5) ways that they are different, and five (5) ways that they are similar. Be specific.
BONUS! You may also draw a picture or silhouette of one of the composers, locate each composer's birth and date place on a map, or create a timeline for one of the composers that details their life from birth to death.
Return to Top
ConclusionI hope that you have enjoyed your journey back in time. Have you gained more insight during your SCAVENGER HUNT into the life and times of these famous composers? How did the
times that they lived in influenced their lives and music?
Your search and analysis of information and fun facts for each composer should have enabled you to create a Venn Diagram comparing two of the composers. Maps, timelines, drawings, pictures, and listening to the music of these composers all are ways to bring the THREE B's to LIFE!Return to Top