Teacher Pages

UNTITLED String Quartet Mark Rothko, 1936

MUSIC

Objectives:
Students will be able to identify instrumentation of the string quartet ( violin 1, violin 2, viola and cello).

Students will be able to analyze how the elements of expression in chamber music are able to achieve specific emotional feelings.

Listening:
Second Movement of String quartet #8 by Dmitri Shostakovich (Russian 1906-1975)

Reading:
The enjoyment of Music by Joseph Machlis and Kristine Forney (p; 499 -559)

Procedure:
Listen to the musical performance and compare and contrast the use of expression. Discuss Polytonality, 12 tone scales and Nationalism in music Discuss the lives and historical background of Rothko and Shostakovich. Score read part of the string quartet.

Assessment:
Have students give a presentation to the class relating their personal emotions and feelings towards the artwork and the string quartet performance.