JUST A LITTLE SONG

Exploring the world of music making, Nova Deco takes students on a whirlwind tour of musical styles. Names of notes, pitches, how they are written, and where composers get their ideas is the focus of this presentation. Featuring music by J.S. Bach, Thurlough O’Carolyn, and William Grant Still, the duo presents three stories to illustrate the ideas of composition. Ketzel, the Cat who Composed, by Lesla Newman and illustrated by Amy June Bates, is based on a true story of the rabbi and music professor Moshe Cotel and his musical cat. Finding a kitten, Rabbi Cotel is searching for inspiration when the cat jumps on his piano and plays some of the keys. The resulting tune is turned into a prize winning composition! In The Leprechaun’s Gold, by Pamela Duncan Edward, illustrated by Henry Cole, the music of Irish harpist and poet, Thurlough O’Carolyn, sets an Irish tone for this story of competition and good will. William Grant Still, African-American composer of the 20th century, wanted to “impress upon children the need for human understanding.” In this gentle story, The Little Song, a very small melody, only four notes long, embarks on a journey to visit all the children of America. Cultural idioms from Native American, Bayou, Asian American, Latin American, African American, Italian American and Country folk are all touched by the small tune. William Grant Still, long known as the Dean of African-American Classical Composers, is better known for symphonic and sacred music, being the composer of Deep River and other classic spirituals. He was the first African American composer to break into the American symphonic scene. Through these three stories, Nova Deco brings melody and harmony to the students, while exploring the different musical cultures of America.

SECD: Social Awareness, Conflict Resolution, Self-Discovery, Self-Awareness