Narrative: Rhapsodic Composition

 

I

Unit: Dance Forms 

Theme: Narrative & Rhapsodic Composition


Introduction

A narrative, story, or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether nonfictional or fictional. Narratives can be presented through a sequence of written or spoken words, through still or moving images, or through any combination of these.

Rhapsodies on the other hand express pure feelings. We can thank the Greeks for the idea of the Rhapsody, though their rhapsodies were rather more word-based – poetry to be exact. Poetic rhapsodies were a kind of recital of all the best bits of poems, brought together in one colorful epic. And that’s really what a musical Rhapsody is, a piece of music of indeterminate length and with no formal structure, comprised of a number of different musical ideas.

A Rhapsody is all about dynamics: light and shade, high and low, loud and soft, happy and sad… It's a story, a journey.

 

II

 Learning Objectives


  • Understand the meaning of narrative
  • Explain the difference between a musical rhapsody and a dance rhapsody
  • Gain an awareness of the parts of dance piece that make it a narrative
  • Experience the rhapsodic aspect of a composition


III


Warm Up

Stretching 

Posture



IV

Main Lesson


 

1

 Narrative/Rhapsodic:

1. Narratives follow a story-line, and may convey specific meaning or concepts through that story. Example: Retelling a fairy tale, a classic, or following a story from your life.  

 

Question 1

Mention an example of a narrative from childhood. Explain why is it important. 

 


 
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - Op 43
 
 https://youtu.be/HvKTPDg0IW0
 
 
 
 
 
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
 
https://youtu.be/sBspSJWRT2E 


2. Dances that express pure feeling are “rhapsodies”—emotion is the tie that holds the composition together. Example: Conveying a sense of sadness or loss through movement. 
 
Question 2
 
Compare a musical rhapsody with a movement/dance rhapsody. 

 
 
V
 
 A Note to Remember
 
Rhapsodies express pure feeling.
 
 
 
VI
 
 Case Studies


Masterpieces: 

 

1. Narrative— Jose Limon's Moor's Pavane

 

2. Rhapsodic— Dispute with God by Harald Kreutzberg 

3. Lamentation by Martha Graham

 1

 Narrative

The Moors Pavane, Jose Limon

 

Question 3

What aspects of this dance piece make it a narrative? 


  2

 Rhapsodic

LINK:  Dispute with God, Kreutzberg, Harald

 

Question 4

 Why is Dispute with God a rhapsodic composition?


 3

Lamentation, Martha Graham
 
Question 5
 
 What aspects of Graham's Lamentation accentuate its rhapsodic character?
 
 
 
VII
 
Activity
 
  1. Apply the concept of narrative to your ensemble piece.
  2. Apply the concept of rhapsody to your solo piece.
 

================= 
 
VIII
 
Journaling
 
 
IX
 
Glossary
 
 
X
Sources
 
 
XI
 
Students' Work

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