8. Hummingbirds and parrots
Hummingbirds that shimmer
Daylight growing dimmer
Pandemonium of parrots taking flight
Shimmer of tiny hummingbirds
Were not the only ones who heard
A pandemonium of parrots taking flight
Daylight growing dimmer
Pandemonium of parrots taking flight
Shimmer of tiny hummingbirds
Were not the only ones who heard
A pandemonium of parrots taking flight
Fascinations
Birds seem to attract attractive collective nouns - what a choice set for hummingbirds: bouquet, charm, hover, glittering, shimmer and tune. The word pandemonium, often preceded by ‘complete’, is a noisy disorder or confusion and the opposite of a shimmer of hummingbirds. Notice that pandemonium uses all 5 vowels: a-e-o-i-u, (although when we sing there are more than 5 vowel sounds because the 5 combine with each other and also other letters!). Can you name the only musical instrument that contains all five vowels? Answer: Tambourine.
Birds seem to attract attractive collective nouns - what a choice set for hummingbirds: bouquet, charm, hover, glittering, shimmer and tune. The word pandemonium, often preceded by ‘complete’, is a noisy disorder or confusion and the opposite of a shimmer of hummingbirds. Notice that pandemonium uses all 5 vowels: a-e-o-i-u, (although when we sing there are more than 5 vowel sounds because the 5 combine with each other and also other letters!). Can you name the only musical instrument that contains all five vowels? Answer: Tambourine.
Learning moves
The learning moves for this piece stem from Dalcroze eurhythmics which teaches concepts of rhythm, structure, and musical expression using movement. Here, a gentle swaying movement to the waltz-like melody teaches an awareness of the pulse and develops an understanding of phrasing. The regular movement is followed by the ordered chaos of the pandemonium bars in which the gentle swaying movements become a phrase of 3+2 beats. The effect of the Lydian mode creates a shimmering effect, especially when played on the piano with the sustaining pedal depressed.
The learning moves for this piece stem from Dalcroze eurhythmics which teaches concepts of rhythm, structure, and musical expression using movement. Here, a gentle swaying movement to the waltz-like melody teaches an awareness of the pulse and develops an understanding of phrasing. The regular movement is followed by the ordered chaos of the pandemonium bars in which the gentle swaying movements become a phrase of 3+2 beats. The effect of the Lydian mode creates a shimmering effect, especially when played on the piano with the sustaining pedal depressed.
