Composer Spotlight: Jennifer Higdon - Music and Creativity
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Jennifer Higdon
Born: December 31, 1962
Biography
Jennifer Higdon was 15 years old when she taught herself to play the flute and
18 years old when she began formal music studies
She began studying composition at age 21 and despite this late start has
become a major composer of contemporary orchestral music
She has written orchestral music, chamber music, wind ensemble, choral, and
opera music
In 2010, Higdon was awarded the Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary
Composition for her Percussion Concerto and the Pulitzer Prize for Music for
her Violin Concerto
She received a bachelor’s degree in Music from Bowling Green State University,
an Artist Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, and a master’s degree and
doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.
She holds the Milton L. Rock Chair in Composition Studies at the Curtis Institute
of Music in Philadelphia, where she teaches young composers and musicians.
Featured Work:
City Scape: Peachtree
Street-not included on CD
City Scape
is a composition by Jennifer Higdon, commissioned by the Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra in 2002.
It is made up of three movements:
Skyline, River Sings a Song to Trees, and
Peachtree Street
, which can be played separately or together as the conductor
decides.
Peachtree Street is the main street in downtown Atlanta and this piece
represents the excitement of a city street.
“
City Scape”
is a metropolitan sound picture written in orchestral tones… Every
main street that runs through a city is loaded with the energy and bustle of
commerce, reflecting the needs and wants of its citizens through business.
Because there is so much diversity in city streets, I’ve created a movement that
explores the diverse sections of the orchestra, their relationships and the way
they combine in creating a larger voice” –Jennifer Higdon
Fundamental of Music: Rhythm
Rhythm is the arrangement of sounds in an organized manner.
Rhythm occurs throughout our life. Imagine the following pattern of sounds:
Rain falling on a window
Ticking of the second hand of an analog clock
Your feet hitting the ground as you walk
Meter helps organize the rhythms for notation. It also helps give the musical work
its pulse. Throughout this piece, Higdon plays with various rhythms to affect where
the ear hears the pulse
Classroom Activity #1-Objective: Students will
create their own rhythm composition using
unpitched instruments
Watch this short video (I need the video)
Have students turn and talk to their shoulder buddies about different rhythms
As a class create a rhythm composition from these ideas
Students will then break into pairs and create and write out a short rhythm
composition using at least 4 different rhythm patterns.
Once completed, students will share these rhythm patterns with the class
Classroom Activity # 2: Rhythm Game
Post on projector or Smart Board reminders of notation-whole, half, quarter,
eighth notes add in (Higdon Link: Notation chart)
Distribute markers and paper
Direct students to create their own rhythmic piece which they will perform
for their classmates
Clap an example and as a student volunteer to write on the board what you
clapped. Repeat several times to reinforce different rhythms, so that the
students build confidence in various rhythms
Allow a few minutes for students to create their own rhythmic compositions
and have each succeeding student guess how to notate the previous student’s
composition
Jennifer Higdon, a renowned composer known for her contemporary orchestral music, overcame a late start to become a major figure in the music world. From winning prestigious awards to teaching young musicians, her contributions are significant. Explore her life, achievements, featured work "City Scape: Peachtree Street," and the fundamental of music focusing on rhythm. Engage in a classroom activity related to creating rhythm compositions. Dive into the world of music and creativity through Jennifer Higdon's story.
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Presentation Transcript
Jennifer Higdon Born: December 31, 1962
Biography Jennifer Higdon was 15 years old when she taught herself to play the flute and 18 years old when she began formal music studies She began studying composition at age 21 and despite this late start has become a major composer of contemporary orchestral music She has written orchestral music, chamber music, wind ensemble, choral, and opera music In 2010, Higdon was awarded the Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for her Percussion Concerto and the Pulitzer Prize for Music for her Violin Concerto She received a bachelor s degree in Music from Bowling Green State University, an Artist Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music, and a master s degree and doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. She holds the Milton L. Rock Chair in Composition Studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she teaches young composers and musicians.
Featured Work: City Scape: Peachtree Street-not included on CD City Scape is a composition by Jennifer Higdon, commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 2002. It is made up of three movements: Skyline, River Sings a Song to Trees, and Peachtree Street, which can be played separately or together as the conductor decides. Peachtree Street is the main street in downtown Atlanta and this piece represents the excitement of a city street. City Scape is a metropolitan sound picture written in orchestral tones Every main street that runs through a city is loaded with the energy and bustle of commerce, reflecting the needs and wants of its citizens through business. Because there is so much diversity in city streets, I ve created a movement that explores the diverse sections of the orchestra, their relationships and the way they combine in creating a larger voice Jennifer Higdon
Fundamental of Music: Rhythm Rhythm is the arrangement of sounds in an organized manner. Rhythm occurs throughout our life. Imagine the following pattern of sounds: Rain falling on a window Ticking of the second hand of an analog clock Your feet hitting the ground as you walk Meter helps organize the rhythms for notation. It also helps give the musical work its pulse. Throughout this piece, Higdon plays with various rhythms to affect where the ear hears the pulse
Classroom Activity #1-Objective: Students will create their own rhythm composition using unpitched instruments Watch this short video (I need the video) Have students turn and talk to their shoulder buddies about different rhythms As a class create a rhythm composition from these ideas Students will then break into pairs and create and write out a short rhythm composition using at least 4 different rhythm patterns. Once completed, students will share these rhythm patterns with the class
Classroom Activity # 2: Rhythm Game Post on projector or Smart Board reminders of notation-whole, half, quarter, eighth notes add in (Higdon Link: Notation chart) Distribute markers and paper Direct students to create their own rhythmic piece which they will perform for their classmates Clap an example and as a student volunteer to write on the board what you clapped. Repeat several times to reinforce different rhythms, so that the students build confidence in various rhythms Allow a few minutes for students to create their own rhythmic compositions and have each succeeding student guess how to notate the previous student s composition
