Music Section 2 Flashcards
Which natural places has Ferdre Grofé composed pieces on?
Yellowstone, Death Valley, Niagra Falls, the Hudsen River, Lake Mead, and the Grand Canyon
Which instruments did Grofe play?
piano, violin, viola, and alto horn
Which symphony was Grofe a soloist at?
Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra. He was a violin soloist from when he was 17 to 27
Which group did Grofe make arrangements for?
Paul Whiteman Orchestra. He joined in 1920
What arrangement made Grofe somewhat famous?
His symphonic jazz arrangement of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Paul Whiteman asked him to start writing original works for the orchestra afterwards.
Who made a short that used Grand Canyon Suite as its score and what award did the short win?
Walt Disney. Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Live Action)
How did Grofe first see the Grand Canyon?
When he was in AZ as a member of the US Cavalry Band during WW1, a friend (who was a sheriff) drove him over.
What is the history of the Grand Canyon’s protection under the US Government?
Forest Reserve in 1893, Game Reserve in 1906, National Monument in 1908, and National Park in 1909
When did Grofe first visit the Grand Canyon?
1917
Who composed Grand Canyon Suite?
Ferdre Grofé
How many acres is Grand Canyon National Park?
1.2 Million Acres
When did the composer begin work on Grand Canyon Suite?
- He finished in 1931
Who inspired “On the Trail”?
Eddie King, a recording supervisor for Columbia Records. He reminded Grofe that Bright Angel Trail was pretty iconic.
What are the five movements in Grand Canyon Suite?
- Sunrise
- Painted Desert
- On the Trail
- Sunset
- Cloudburst
Which movement from Grand Canyon Suite was most popular?
“On the Trail”
What animal sound is heard in “On the Trail?”
Burro (wild donkey) braying.
note: the visitors actually rode Mules
What is the interval that makes the “hee-haw” sound in “On the Trail?”
a drop of a major 7th
Who was the first violin soloist to play “On the Trail?”
Kurt Dieterle
What song did the composer adapt into the Burro motif in “On the Trail?”
Horses by Byron Gay and Richard Whiting
What form does “On the Trail” follow?
rondo form: A-B-A-C-A
What instrumentation did Grofe use to make the clip-clop sounds of hooves in “On the Trail”?
Coconut shells muffled with leather. It is often substituted for temple blocks
What polymeter is heard in “On the Trail?”
The “Cowboy Song” melody is in cut time while the “Burro” motif is in 6/8 time.
When was the Baroque Era?
Roughly 1600-1730
What famous set of violin concertos were composed by Antonio Vivaldi?
The Four Seasons. The second concerto, Summer, has a storm in its third movement
When was the Classical Era?
From around 1730 to 1800
When was the Romantic Era?
Most of the 1800’s