Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Overture to Nabucco Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi is considered to be the king of Italian Opera. Born in LeRoncole Italy in October 1813, he studied music as a small boy and performed music at his village church. He was not accepted into the famous music school, Milan Conservatorio, but instead studied music with maestro Vincenzo Lavigna in Milan. The opera Nabucco (also called Nabucodonosoro) was completed in 1942 and immediately performed at La Scala, Italy’s famous opera house. Nabucco was an overnight hit! It is said to be the opera that made Verdi famous, in Italy and around the world. The opera was so popular in its first five performances it was scheduled for 57 more performances the following season. The opera was performed so many times it holds a record at La Scala. Verdi went on to compose other famous operas including: Aida, Rigoletto, La Traviate, Falstaff, Macbeth and Othello. When Giuseppe Verdi died in 1901, a quarter million people attended his funeral. At his funeral mourners sang the chorus from Nabucco together. Questions from the reading: 1. Was Verdi popular while he was alive? 2. Did Verdi attend music college? Questions for research: 1. What were some of Verdi’s other opera’s?

Historical Context in which the composer lives

NYS Standards Addressed: Standard 1 – Creating, Performing, and Participating in Music Students will compose original music and perform music written by others. They will understand and use the basic elements of music in their performances and compositions. Students will engage in individual and group musical and music-related tasks, and will describe the various roles and means of creating, performing, recording, and producing music. Standard 2 – Knowing and Using Music Materials and Resources Students will use traditional instruments, electronic instruments, and a variety of nontraditional sound sources to create and perform music. They will use various resources to expand their knowledge of listening experiences, performance opportunities, and/or information about music. Students will identify opportunities to contribute to

their communities’ music institutions, including those embedded in other institutions (church choirs, industrial music ensembles, etc.). Students will know the vocations and avocations available to them in music. Standard 3 – Responding to and Analyzing Works of Music Students will demonstrate the capacity to listen to and comment on music. They will relate their critical assertions about music to its aesthetic, structural, acoustic, and psychological qualities. Students will use concepts based on the structure of music’s content and context to relate music to other broad areas of knowledge. They will use concepts from other disciplines to enhance their understanding of music. Standard 4 – Understanding the Cultural Dimensions and Contributions of Music Students will develop a performing and listening repertoire of music of various genres, styles, and cultures that represent the peoples of the world and their manifestations in the United States. Students will recognize the cultural features of a variety of musical compositions and performances and understand the functions of music within the culture.

Performance Indicators: Objectives/Procedures: •

Students will read simple rhythms in time with a recording of Overture to Nabucco.

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Students will sing themes from Verdi’s The Overture to Nabucco.

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Students will follow a listening map outlining the form of the Overture to Nabucco.

Listening Repertoire: Overture to Nabucco by Verdi Materials: Vocabulary – Overture, Opera, Pizzacato, staccato, legato, forte, piano, theme, motive Pictures Availability of other materials about the music/composer (optional) Indicators of Success: Prior Knowledge: be able to keep a steady beat while ready quarter notes, quarter rests and eighth note pairs, Follow-up: Extensions:

   

 

  Giuseppe Verdi

Born:

In a village near Busseto on October 9 or 10,1813

Died:

In Milan on January 27, 1901

Education Marriage: Occupation Compositions: Noted for: The music you will hear at the concert

Studied in Milan, Italy Margherita Barexxi on May 4,1836 Composer of operas Composed numerous operas including Aida, Othello,Rigoletto His operas and his influence Rossini, Bellini and others. Overture to the opera Nabucco.

FF Strings

Andantino WW & Pizz. St. ¾ time

Chorale

Allegro Theme B

Dramatic Strings

Chorale Theme

Allegro B

Andantino Theme Strings

Chorale Theme

Guiseppe Verdi Listening Map

Allegro A

Allegro A (partial)

Sneaky Chromatic Cello

Overture to Nabucco

Coda

Allegro Theme A