AMERICAN RIVERSONGS

By: Pierre La Plante

Chihiro Kashiwakura and Heather Kole

Pierre La Plante
- Teacher for 33 years - Has taught K-6 general music, middle school band, high school band and chorus - Writes music that is accessible to younger students - Bassoonist, actively plays in Wisconsin bands and orchestras - He believes the biggest challenge in writing for young bands is to come up with something musical (keeping the technical demands reasonable), without "writing down" to the group

American Riversongs
Based on traditional music

Composed in 1991
Includes themes from four folk songs from the Steamboat

Era (songs sung/known by people that worked on the river or lived by it in the 1800s):
Down the River Shenandoah The Glendy Burke A Night in the Tropics

What are folksongs?

The term folk song comes from word folk lore

The traditions, customs, and superstitions of the uncultured classes

German word Volk

The people as a whole applied to popular and national music

Folk song is often described as. Old songs, with no known composers Process of oral transmission

Farm workers and factory workers learned by singing, not reading

music/words What the people sing Found in lower class in a feudal society Related to national culture Different people from other countries bring their own songs from their countries Can commemorate certain historical events/holidays

Down the River

This melody is used as the opening theme of American Riversongs Come along and go with me Down the river I go Carry me down to Tennesse Down the river I go Chorus Down the river I go Uncle Joe Down the river I go Down the river I go Uncle Joe Down the river I go Horse and buggy to carry you round Down the river I go Your little feet will never touch ground Down the river I go Chorus Listen

Shenandoah
Shenandoah started as a river chantey (a song with alternating solo and chorus, of a kind originally sung by sailors while performing physical labor together) and later became recognized throughout the world. This is the middle portion of American Riversongs

1:25 Listen

Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you, Away you rolling river Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you, Away, I'm bound away 'cross the wide Missouri. Oh Shenandoah, I love your daughter Away, you rolling river. For her I'd cross, Your roaming waters. Away, I'm bound away, 'Cross the wide Missouri.

'Tis seven years since last I've seen you, And hear your rolling river, 'Tis seven years since last I've seen you, Away, we're bound away Across the wide Missouri. Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you, And hear your rolling river, Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you, Away, we're bound away Across the wide Missouri.

Listen

The Glendy Burke

This is the 1st melody in the 3rd section of American Riversongs

The Glendy Burke is a mighty fast boat Ho for Lousiana, With a mighty fast captain, too I'm bound to leave this town, He sits up there on the hurricane roof I'll take my duds and tote 'em on my back And he keeps his eye on the crew. When the Glendy Burke comes down. I can't stay here for they work too hard I'm bound to leave this town, I'll take my duds and tote 'em on my back When the Glendy Burke comes down. Listen 3:40 Listen

A Night in the Tropics

This is the 2nd main theme in the 3rd section of American Riversongs The Afro-Virgin Islander bamboula tradition is now only performed in a reconstructed fashion. It was a style of song, drumming and folk dance, performed by two drummers on one drum; one drumer used his hands and heel, and the other two sticks. African-styled dance and group song with refrains were a constant part, with verses frequently improvised by a soloist. This is imitation of a bamboula tune Listen 4:30

Which theme is which?

3:40 1:25 4:30

Listen

Activities
Time signature conducting activity

Naming the themes listening activity

Key signature activity- have them play the following

scales: F Major, B-flat Major, and E-flat Major because these are the keys used in the piece