Many moons ago Grade 6 were working on producing a 21st Century version of an old dance tune called a Pavane. We multi-tracked a great sound track in which each member of the class is playing a different instrument. We then set about making a video for it, which is when the trouble began...
Join In is the name of this piece created by Grade 6 which uses many layers of repeating patterns. Such patterns in music are called ostinatos and by carefully choosing the notes used it is possible to add many different patterns which all sound good together. The result is a piece that builds up from simple components into something that can be extended indefinitely, but also changes continually.
A Pavane is a kind of dance that was very popular in Europe in the 16th century. Grade 6 recorded this piece by Susato as part of their work on medieval music, the next stage of which will be to create a Pavane dance video which may be somewhat less authentic in style. Wait and see...
An ostinato is a repeating pattern in music and it is usually a short melody which is used as an accompaniment. Ostinatos can also be used as the main focus of the music by building them up in layers. In this piece,
Chinese Music, by Brian, Michael and Nic they have used a pentatonic scale to ensure that as each layer of the music is added, it all sounds good together.
Japanese composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto wrote this haunting music for the movie 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence'. Listen to Grade 6 do an excellent performance of it in a lunchtime concert.
