Each week we listen to different music in assemblies and we learn a little about each piece - the music itself and the musician. Below you can read about the most recent music we have been listening to.
Term 4 - World Music
Week 4 (Making Good Choices) -
Wintergatan's Marble Machine
This newly invented machine is called a 'Marble Machine'.
The machine is powered by hand, and works by dropping marbles on to the musical instruments below. The instruments played by marbles striking them include a glockenspiel, bass guitar, cymbal, and an electrck drum kit.
A large wheel are fitted to the machine allows the marbles to be released at the correct time to play a note.
The engineers have used science, mechanics and their imagnation to engineer this amazing machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q
Week 3 (Proud to be me) - Maya Sona Jobareth - Popular Gambian Music
Born in London, Maya Sona Jobarteh's father comes from Gambia in west Africa. Maya is proud to be Gambian and female. She plays an instrument called a kora and is the first female kora player to become famous. Through her music she inspires others to be proud of who they are. Born in London, Maya Sona Jobarteh's father comes from Gambia in west Africa. Maya is proud to be Gambian and female. She plays an instrument called a kora and is the first female kora player to become famous. Through her music she inspires others to be proud of who they are. The kora is a 21-stringed harp-like instrument. The instrument is an important element of the Mandingo peoples in West Africa and their playing is reserved only to certain families called Griot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6QRcd2h-zE
Week 2 - Traditional Indian Music
This weeks music comes from India. We can hear traditional indian instruments. A long stringed instrument is used in this music which is called a sitar and the drums heard are called the tabla.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoI_PcOzW4Q
Week 1 (Healthy Me)
Listening to and making music helps us stay healthy and happy. Eating vegetables also helps us stay healthy! This week's assembly music combines these two things! Here is the Vegetable orchestra where all the instruments played have been made out of vegetables! What vegetables can you see? what instruments do the vegetables remind you of?
The Vegetable Orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKrx1gWI_Vk
Term 3 - World Music
Week 6 (Courage) - Traditional Irish Music
The famous Riverdance is a performance of traditional Irish music and dance. The percussion (rhythm) is created by the dancers hitting the floor with their feet. The dancers need courage to dance infront of their audience. They also need courage to beleive that they can perform a challenging and difficult dance. By not giving up and having courage they have practised their skills and have become the best Irish dancs in the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoHlrQScWl0
Week 5 (Enjoyment) -Barrule - Celtic Folk Music
Music can be fun and enjoyable. It can make us want to sing and sing and it's even more enjoyable when we share it with our friends. We also use music to help us celebrate special events. Music can allow us to forget our troubles for a while.
This week's music is by a band called Barrule from the Isle of Man. In the video you can see the musicians having fun playing music together and enjoying creating music.
Barrule is a celtic folk band. The Isle of Man is a small island above Wales and it is close to Northern Ireland and Scotland. The instruments used in the music we are listening to this week are the violin, accordian and guitar. These intrumetns are typical of those found in celtic folk music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGUNoy9F32s
Week 4 (Nurture) - Chinese New Year
On Saturday many celebrated the Chinese New Year. Each year is named after an animal. As the year of the Pig ends, the new year of the Rat begins. Chinese people celebrate their new year by decorating their homes with flowers, setting off fireworks, wearing red for luck and by listening to music. This video shows a special Chinese New Year concert held to celebrate the 2 week long festival. Look and listen to the Chinese instruments. They look and sound very different to our own instruments!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGk5tXLR0Ps
Week 3 (Openess) - Popuar Cuban Music
The assembly music this week was written and performed by Cuban and American Musicians. Their goal was to bring Cuban Music to America and Britain and to share the culture of Cuba. The musicians were open about their goal as they wanted their fans to support them and others to be excited about hearing their music Cuban music is a mixture of African rhythms, spanish instruments and lyrics and Jazzy melodies.
Cuban Music - Buenos Vista Social Club - Chan Chan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGbRZ73NvlY
Week 2 (Respect) - Ukulele Music
Respect is important in music. Respect is needed for instruments and for musicians. Year 4 have been learning Ukulele last term and this term. They have been learning to respect instruments. If we don't look after them then they will be damaged and won't be able to create music anymore! They have also been learning to respect each other as musicians. If they don't listen to each other and to each others ideas then it is difficult to create music together.
In our video this week you can see the Ukulele Orchestra looking after their instruments and listening to each other so they can create music.
The Ukulele Orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLgJ7pk0X-s
Week 1 (Determination) - Aboriginal Music
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an Aboriginal musician from Australia and was born blind. When he was 4 years old he found that he had a love for music. His family had very little money and could not afford for anyone to help him learn at school. Despite his blindness Geoffrey was determined to become a musician. He taught himself to play the accordion with no help and he practised every day. Next he learnt the piano and then the guitar and drums. Being blind did not stop him from becoming a musician and he was determined to share his music. People loved his music and he travelled the world to play his music to many different people.
Wiyathul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8-YMpYbRqY
Term 2 - Music History
Week 7 (Christmas)
This orchestral music 'Sleigh Ride" is often associated with Christmas and paints a picture of a sleigh being pulled through snow by a horse. Can you hear the horse clip-clopping and a whip used to get the horse moving. In most performances, a percussionist provides these sounds on blocks and the side of a drum (drum rim). Toward the end of the piece, a trumpet imitates the sound of a horse whinnying.
Sleigh Ride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_2BmZ6ELaI
Week 6 (Peace)
A definination for peace is "freedom from disturbance". A distrbance can be a loud noise, worried thoughts or war.
Ludovico is a famous Italian composer who worked with the charity 'Greenpeace'. With his music he expressed the need to give our world peace and free it from global warming and distruction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DLnhdnSUVs
Week 5 (Unity)
Music can bring everyone together in unity. We come together to celebrate festivals, families or to remember loved ones and past events. As a school we come together every week and listen to spcecial assembly music before we celebrate our learning and to look forward to our futures. The assembly music that has brought us together this week in unity was written by a man called Dvorak. The music is about America and many people come together to listen to his music to celebrate the country. It is one of the most popular peices of music ever written.
Dvorak's 'New World' Symphony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hL8xdcaX7o
Week 4 (Diversity)
This piece of music is one of the most famous compositions in classical music ever written. It was written by a man named Sebastian Bach. Listen to the music – you should be able to hear lots of different instruments. They all sound very different (violins, flutes, cello and harpsichord). Bach understood that all instruments have their own sound so he wrote a different part for each instrument. No instrument is playing the same tune but all instruments are working together to create one piece of music. Each instrument’s individuality is celebrated but also equal to the other instruments.
Brandenburg Concerto no. 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6hQvvhqfJo
Week 3 (Exporation)
The assembly music this week is named after Mars, one of the planet in our solar system. Through space exploration we have learnt a lot about our neighbouring planets and what they are made of. Gustav Holst was inspired by what was learnt when scientists explored outside our own earth. and wrote one of the most famous pieces of music to describe each planet discovered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXOanvv4plU
Week 2 (Curiosity)
Curiosity is the first step towards learning and inventing. The music we hear today was created through a musician's curiosity in the different sounds we can make. Throughout music history, musicians have experimented with blowing and hitting objects to create sounds. Leon Theramin was curious in producing sounds without blowing or hitting an instrument. He was also curious in how interacting with magnetic waves can be used to create sound. This led to the invention of the Theramin which we can hear in the Assembly music today.
Summertime - Gershwin - Charlie Draper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJOrZRmoDgM
Week 1 - Children's Choice
Term 1 - Music History
Week 8 (Diwali)
This week many people are celebrating the Hindu festival Diwali. The music we're listening to this week might be played during the festival when Hindu's give thanks to Shri-Lakshmi, Hindu mother-goddess who nurtures and nourishes all life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au1HtkteZ2g
Week 7 (Black History Week)
Throughout history, black composers from Africa have fought to be recognised as classical composers. The assembly music this week is written by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Samuel's father was from Sierra Leone in Africa. Samuel was proud of his identity and culture so he wrote the 'African Suite' which fuses African influences with the western classical style.
African Suite - Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHqUnfGNybk
Week 6 (Harmony)
This week's music was composed by George Butterworth. He wrote warm harmonies to accampany peaceful melodies. Harmonies are created when instruments play different pitches and work together to create music. George made harmony not only in his music but in the world too. During first world war he worked hard to stop the fighting and bring peace to the world.
The Banks of the Green Willow - George Butterworth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmaO1r2C8W0
Week 5
Carnival of the Animals - Aquarium by Saint Saens
Saint Saens wrote music called 'Carnival of the Animals' where he gave each animal a part of the music to describe it. He was fair to each animal and wrote each song to beautifuly descrbe each animal. This song describes the fish in the sea.
Week 4
The composer has taken a very old traditional English tune, thought to date back to the Elizabethan times, and turned it into a piece of classical music.
Ralph Vaughan Williams "Fantasia on Greensleeves"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wLqJEpi-ss
Week 3 (Tolerance)
Two Cellos - Cover of Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect'. The two cellists are best friends and work together to create music. They take it in turns to play the melody (the bit that Ed sings) whilst the other creates the backing music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXHB9wL4WFg
Week 2 (Politeness)
This week we have ‘The young person’s guide to the orchestra’ by Benjamin Britten. It was written for children to introduce them to the orchestra and the sounds each instrument makes.
BBC Symphony Orchestra play "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" by Benjamin Britten
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkqf2RQ9wb4
Week 1 (New Beginnings)
Lark Ascending is based on a poem about a Sky Lark waking up and singing before starting its new journey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOWN5fQnzGk
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Past Assembly Music (2018-2019)
Term 6 - Popular Music
Week 6
--- Pupil's Choice -Welcome Assembly -
Alex and Sierra - Little do you know
"It's a peaceful song. I like it because it is calm"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lREtsV2y2bQ
--- Pupil's Choice - Celebration Assembly -
George Ezra - Shotgun
"It is fun and I like to dance to it"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxG44-EpfhI
---This weeks Theme -Express Yourself -
Nina Simone - I wish I knew how it feels to be free
Nina Simone was a Jazz singer and Pianist from America. Before her, female jazz musicians would only sing. Nina accompanied herself with the piano and played her own songs.
Nina expresses herself through her music and lyrics. She sings about her experiences, feeling and tries to make others think with her words to bring about change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dlrXCYrNYI
Week 5
--- Pupil's Choice - Randy Newman - You've Got a Friend in Me
"This music sounds bouncy and happy. It's about being a good friend and that makes me happy too"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m8x8fDL01o
---This weeks Theme -Journey
'The Climb' by Miley Cyrus is about the journey we all take during our lives. Sometimes in life we fail but it's how we overcome challenges keep on going. Life is as much about the journey as it is crossing the finish line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agyTn10mW74
Week 4 - Living in Bristol
This week in assembly we're thinking about living in Bristol. George Ezra is one of Bristol's most loved musicians. He moved to Bristol in 2011 and studied at one of Bristol's music schools (BIMM) before touring the world with his music. THe people of Bristol are proud of what Geoge has acheived and George says he felt "at home" when he studied in Bristol.
Week 3 - Democracy
Week 2 - The World
In 1967, Louis Armstrong sung a song titled “What a wonderful world.” Louis sings of seeing various events and natural wonders that make him smile. He sings about blooming flowers, rainbows and day and night. He also sings about people who live on the world. All this makes the world wonderful. What do you think makes the world wonderful?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=CWzrABouyeE
Week 1 - Eid ul Fitr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suvMCBb_ELM&safe=active
Term 5 - Popular Music
Week 5
The 5 singers in this video were brothers and they called themselves the ‘Jackson 5’. The young boy singing was 7 years old when he recorded this song and he later became one of the greatest pop musicians in the world, Michael Jackson.
I want you back - the Jackon Five: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Q80mk7bxE
Week 4 (Trust)
This song, which is written by Bill Withers, is all about trusting others to help you. Bill tells his friend to trust that he will support him. He says to his friend to 'lean on me', and ask for help, because he is ready and is not going anywhere. Bill also says that he trusts that his friend would help him if he had a problem.
Bill Withers- Lean on me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io6HwRadjU4
Week 3 (Love)
One of the most famous bands of the 20th Century was the Beatles who came from Liverpoool. They were ordinary young men who shook the world with their music.
In our assembly music this week, the Beatles remind us that our loved ones can help support us thourgh challenges and difficulties.
Beatles - All you Need is Love https://vimeo.com/214047758
Week 2 (Getting on and falling out)
Oasis is band featuring two brothers. They do not always see eye to eye and easily fall out. However, they know that their best music is created and they are most successful when they work together. They will get along to create music for their fans to enjoy.
Video of Oasis - Live Forever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM6XG1DOwrs&safe=active
Week 1 (Relationships)
This week we're thinking about relationships. Relationships and having good friendships are some of the most important things to have. Relationships can be caring, loving, fun and supportive. Relationships make us happy, make us motivated to work hard and to be creative. In this video showing Jazz music, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong have very good relationships with their musicians and with each other. Without their fun friendship then this music would not have been created. Notice how the jazz music is created bit by bit each time Bing introduces another musician. See the fun Bing and Louis have singing together. Think about your favourite artist, musician or author. Who do they have a supportive relationship with to help create their work?
Video of Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong (1956)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3Kajbz1SgY&safe=active
Term 4 - World Music
Week 6 - (Engineers) - Wintergraden's Marcble Machine
This newly invented machine is called a 'Marble Machine'.
The machine is powered by hand, and works by dropping marbles on to the musical instruments below. The instruments played by marbles striking them include a glockenspiel, bass guitar, cymbal, and an electrck drum kit.
A large wheel are fitted to the machine allows the marbles to be released at the correct time to play a note.
The engineers have used science, mechanics and their imagnation to engineer this amazing machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q
Week 5 - (Inventors) - Making Music for Everyone
Over years and years many instruments have been invented giving us the opportunity to create and enjoy music. However, there are many people who are unable to enjoy music due to a disability they have, such as being deaf, blind or unable to hold an instrument. Instrument inventors are wanting to help these musicians and give everyone the opportunity to enjoy music. Watch the video and notice the amazing instruments invented to allow all musicians to enjoy and create music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bupIH3UkPnU
Week 4 - Barule - Celtic Folk Music
Barrule is a celtic folk band from the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is a small island above Wales and it is close to Northern Ireland and Scotland. The instruments used in the music we are listening to this week are the violin, accordian and guitar. These intrumetns are typical of those found in celtic folk music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGUNoy9F32s
Week 3 - Maya Sona Jobareth - Popular Gambian Music
Born in London, Maya Sona Jobarteh's father comes from Gambia in west Africa. She plays an instrument called a kora and the first female kora player to become famous. The kora is a 21-stringed harp-like instrument. The instrument is an important element of the Mandingo peoples in West Africa and their playing is reserved only to certain families called Griot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6QRcd2h-zE
Week 2 - Traditional Indian Music
This weeks music comes from India. We can hear traditional indian instruments. A long stringed instrument is used in this music which is called a sitar and the drums heard are called the tabla.
Traditional Indian Music
Week 1 (Healthy Me)
Listening to and making music helps us stay healthy and happy. Eating vegetables also helps us stay healthy! This week's assembly music combines these two things! Here is the Vegetable orchestra where all the instruments played have been made out of vegetables! What vegetables can you see? what instruments do the vegetables remind you of?
The Vegetable Orchestra
Term 3 - World Music
Week 6 (Failure) - Traditional Irish Music
The famous Riverdance is a performance of traditional Irish music and dance. The percussion (rhythm) is created by the dancers hitting the floor with their feet. The lead dances are both champion Irish dances and have won many competitions.However, when they first started dancing they didn't always win their competitions, they found learning to dance challenging and difficult. By not giving up, learning from their mistakes and practising their skills they got better and are now the best Irish dancs in the world.
Traditional Irish Music and Dance- River Dance
Week 5 (Heroes) - Traditional Chinese Music
This Tuesday China celebrates Chinese New Year. Each year is named after an animal. As the year of the dog ends, the new year of the pig begins. Chinese people celebrate their new year by decorating their homes with flowers, setting off fireworks, wearing red for luck and by listening to music. This video shows some Chinese instruments. They look and sound very different to our own instruments!
Traditional Chinese Music - Ancient China
Week 4 (Communication) - Traditional African Music
African tribes value the importance of communication with others so much that they use drums to communicate with other tribes to far away to talk to. The many different rhythms and sounds produced on a drum act a bit like words in a sentence. Put together and they create messages. Tribes use drums to ask for help, to warn of danger and even to invite other tribes to parties.
Traditional African Music - Djembe Rhythms
Week 3 - Popuar Cuban Music
The assembly music this week was written and performed by Cuban and American Musicians. Their goal was to bring Cuban Music to America and Britain and to share the culture of Cuba. Cuban music is a mixture of African rhythms, spanish instruments and lyrics and Jazzy melodies.
Cuban Music - Buenos Vista Social Club - Chan Chan
Week 2 (Aspiration)
Instrument Focus - Ukulele - Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
The Ukulele orchrestra aspired to make the Ukulele instrument a popular instrument to learn. They were determined to show others that the ukulele was a versitile instrument which all types of music could be played on. One way they did this was by choosing their favourite songs and rewriting them to be played only on Ukuleles.
The Ukulele orchestra was successful and many musicians use the ukulele in their music including Taylor Swift. Year 4 have also been learning the Ukulele. Maybe we'll have our own Hannah More Ukulele soon? :)
The Ukulele Orchestra
Week 1 (Determination) - Aboriginal Music
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was an Aboriginal musician from Australia and was born blind. When he was 4 years old he found that he had a love for music. His family had very little money and could not afford for anyone to help him learn at school. Despite his blindness Geoffrey was determined to become a musician. He taught himself to play the accordion with no help and he practised every day. Next he learnt the piano and then the guitar and drums. Being blind did not stop him from becoming a musician and he was determined to share his music. People loved his music and he travelled the world to play his music to many different people.
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Term 2 - Music History
Week 7 (Christmas)
This orchestral music 'Sleigh Ride" is often associated with Christmas and paints a picture of a sleigh being pulled through snow by a horse. Can you hear the horse clip-clopping and a whip used to get the horse moving. In most performances, a percussionist provides these sounds on blocks and the side of a drum (drum rim). Toward the end of the piece, a trumpet imitates the sound of a horse whinnying.
Sleigh Ride
Week 6 (Peace)
During the second world war, people in many different countries were told they weren’t allowed to listen to certain songs. People who lived in German were told that the were not allowed to listen to music created by Felix Mendelssohn, and this piece of music was the worst music they could listen to. When the fighting stopped and peace was made, many people celebrated by listening to Mendelossohns Midsummer Nights Dream. People are still reminded of the importance of peace when they listen to this music.
Felix Mendelssohn - Midsummer Night’s Dream
Week 5 (Unity)
Music can bring everyone together in unity. We come together to celebrate festivals, families or to remember loved ones and past events. As a school we come together every week and listen to spcecial assembly music before we celebrate our learning and to look forward to our futures. The assembly music that has brought us together this week in unity was written by a man called Dvorak. The music is about America and many people come together to listen to his music to celebrate the country. It is one of the most popular peices of music ever written.
Dvorak's 'New World' Symphony Dvorak's 'New World' Symphony
Week 4 (Diversity)
This piece of music is one of the most famous compositions in classical music ever written. It was written by a man named Sebastian Bach. Listen to the music – you should be able to hear lots of different instruments. They all sound very different (violins, flutes, cello and harpsichord). Bach understood that all instruments have their own sound so he wrote a different part for each instrument. No instrument is playing the same tune but all instruments are working together to create one piece of music. Each instrument’s individuality is celebrated but also equal to the other instruments.
Sebastian Bach - Brandenburg Concerto no. 4
Week 3 (Exporation)
The assembly music this week is titled after the biggest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. Through space exploration we have learnt a lot about our neighbouring planets and what they are made of. Gustav Holst was inspired by what was learnt when scientists explored outside our own earth. and wrote one of the most famous pieces of music to describe these planets.
Gustav Holst - The Planets - Jupiter
Week 2 (Curiosity)
Curiosty is the first step towards of making something. The music we hear today was created through musician's curiosity in the different sounds we can make. We would not have the music we hear on the radio today had they not experimented wth blowing obects in different ways, hitting them in different places, combining different instruments together and trying out new rhythms.
The Assembly music today featiures Theramin! Leon Theramin was musican who's curiousity in building an instrument which could produce different sounds without being blown or hit led to him inventing the Theramin.
Summertime - Charlie Draper
Week 1 (Diwali)
This week many people are celebrating the Hindu festival Diwali. The music we're listening to this week might be played during the festival and is created by three Indian instruments; the Sitar, a bowed instruments called the Sarangi and a drum called the Tabla. Can you hear them?
Diwali Music
Diwali video
Term 1 - Music History
Week 1 (New Beginnings)
Lark Ascending is based on a poem about a Sky Lark waking up and singing before starting its new journey.
Video of The Lark Ascending being played at the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall
Week 2 (Politeness)
This week we have ‘The young person’s guide to the orchestra’ by Benjamin Britten. It was written for children to introduce them to the orchestra and the sounds each instrument makes.
BBC Symphony Orchestra play "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" by Benjamin Britten
Week 3 (Tolerance)
Two Cellos - Cover of Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect'. The two cellists are best friends and work together to create music. They take it in turns to play the melody (the bit that Ed sings) whilst the other creates the backing music.
Video of 2 cellos playing 'Perfect'
Week 4 (Cooperation)
The composer has taken a very old traditional English tune, thought to date back to the Elizabethan times, and turned it into a piece of classical music.
Ralph Vaughan Williams "Fantasia on Greensleeves"
Week 5 (Fairness)
Carnival of the Animals - Aquarium by Saint Saens
Week 6 (Harmony)
This week's music was composed by George Butterworth. He wrote warm harmonies to accampany peaceful melodies. Harmonies are created when instruments play different pitches and work together to create music. George made harmony not only in his music but in the world too. During first world war he worked hard to stop the fighting and bring peace to the world.
The Banks of the Green Willow - George Butterworth
Week 7 (Black History Week)
Throughout history, black composers from Africa have fought to be recognised as classical composers. The assembly music this week is written by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Samuel's father was from Sierra Leone in Africa. Samuel was proud of his identity and culture so he wrote the 'African Suite' which fuses African influences with the western classical style.
African Suite - Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Week 8 (Loyalty)
Most classical music we hear have been composed by musicians from the past. However, there are many musicians alive today who are loyal to the genre [type of music] and still write classical music. This week's assemby music is written by an Italian composer called Ludovico Einaudi. His music is made up of simple melodies, a bit like a pop song. This makes the music easy to listen to and to remember. Ludovico's loyalty to classical music allows others to enjoy this genre.
Resta Con Me - Ludovico Einaudi
Here is an extra song for you to enjoy listening to :) Divenire - Ludovico Einaudi
Past Assembly Music (2017-2018)
Term 6
Week 1 (Our World)
George Ezra was born in Hertford. He loved listening to old Jazz Blues music, especially one Blues musician who was called 'Howlin' Wolf'. Listening to this old music gave him ideas for his own music.
When he turned 18 he moved to Bristol so he could go to one of our city's music schools (BIMMS). He learnt how to perform music in front of people and he improved his skill in writing music (composing).
People in Bristol loved his voice and music. They would pack out our music halls to see him perform. Quickly he became popular across the UK.
Video of George Ezra playing Budapest
Week 2 (Eid ul Fitr)
Beats of Happiness - Eid Nasheed. A nasheed is an Islamic song - usually just voice or sometimes accompanied by percussion. They are usually about Islam and refer to Islamic teachings or the words of the Qu'ran. This nasheed is to welcome Eid at the end of the Ramadan fast. The video shows a large mosque in the Cairo, Egypt called Ibn Tulun Mosque.
Video of Beats of Happiness
Week 3 (Freedom)
From now until the end of term children have the chance to choose the assembly music. In this first week Ashton has chosen Stormzy as his favourite artist. In this tune Stormzy talks about the importance of his Christian faith to him.
Video of Stormzy singing Blinded by your Grace
Alternative with B&W footage and community participation start at 1 minute 20
Week 4 (Living in Bristol)
This week Tyran has chosen Bob Marley's Three Little Birds. In this song Bob Marley talks about three birds he has seen as he sits on his doorstep. He talks about paying attention to the small things and not worrying to much.
Video of Three Little Birds
Week 5 (Journeys)
This week Amal has chosen the song "Your Mother" by Yusuf Islam. It is an Islamic song reminding Muslims that they shouldShe says: "My song is very meaningful as it reminds me about my wonderful mother. It is called 'My Mother'. It includes '"Never Say no to my mother" and it talks about how our mothers clothes us and feed us."
Video of My Mother by Yusuf Islam
Week 6 (Express Yourself)
Video of This is Me Chosen by Sacdiyo in Y2 BFG
Video of Never Say Never Chosen by Kyeary Harrison Smith
Term 5
Week 1 (Relationships)
This week we're thinking about relationships. Relationships and having good friendships are some of the most important things to have. Relationships can be caring, loving, fun and supportive. Relationships make us happy, make us motivated to work hard and to be creative. In this video showing Jazz music, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong have very good relationships with their musicians and with each other. Without their fun friendship then this music would not have been created. Notice how the jazz music is created bit by bit each time Bing introduces another musician. See the fun Bing and Louis have singing together. Think about your favourite artist, musician or author. Who do they have a supportive relationship with to help create their work?
Video of Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong
Week 2 (Getting on and Falling out)
Nina Simone was a Jazz singer and Pianist from America. Before her, female jazz musicians would only sing. Nina accompanied herself with the piano and played her own songs.
She was able to play classical music as well as Jazz. Her love of classical music can be heard in the middle of this song where she plays music written 300 years ago by the classical cmposer Bach. She then goes back into playing her own Jazz music again.
Her music continues to inspire musicians today.
Nina Simone - I wish I knew how it feels to be free
Week 3 (Democracy)
We had a visiting group of musicians today playing some great tunes. here they are again!
Wallace and Gromit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg9M5IvFQRw
Pink Panther: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0RutCQ4oQk
Mozart Horn Concerto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g4SlqjORM4
Happy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf7HLI_kuzs
Purcell Trumpet Voluntary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR0i170noHY
Week 4 (Trust)
The 5 singers in this video were brothers and they called themselves the ‘Jackson 5’. The young boy singing was 7 years old when he recorded this song and he later became one of the greatest pop musicians in the world, Michael Jackson. The young brothers had to trust each other when singing. They had to trust that each brother would start singing at the right time and that each brother would sing the right tune.
I want you back - the Jackon Five: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Q80mk7bxE
Week 5 (Honesty)
Last week we listened to the Jackson 5 which was fronted by the young Michael Jackson. When Michael Jackson grew up he became one of the best musicians in the world. This week we're listening to one of his songs called 'Man in the Mirror'. The song is about being honest which is this weeks theme. In the song, Michael sings that if you want to make a change or make the world a better place then you need to be honest with yourself first. You need to identify what you find difficult and and work to improve about yourself.
Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson
Week 6 (Ramadan)
As many families prepare for a month of fasting during daylight hours, we focus this week on the importance of Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. The music of Yusuf Islam tells of a family waiting for the moon so they can break their fast.
Ramadan Moon Yusuf Islam
Week 7 (Strength)
One of the most famous bands of the 20th Century was the Beatles who came from Liverpoool. They were ordinary young men who shook the world with their music.
I want to hold your hand
Twist and Shout
Term 3
Week 1 (Determination)
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - an Aboriginal musician from Australia who was born blind but found his love of music when he was four years old. His family had very little money and could not afford to get the help he needed to learn. Despite his blindness he was determined to become a musician and taught himself to play the accordion with no help - practising every day. Next he learned the piano and then the guitar and drums. He shared his music both in Australia and around the world.
Video of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu playing his own music
Video of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee concert in 2012 where Gurrumul contributed to the anthem "Sing" (skip to 5 minutes to see Gurrumul)
Week 2 (Aspiration)
Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo - Somewhere over the rainbow. This song has become an anthem for people all over the world who hope for a better and safer life. The words in the song remind us that dreams can be achieved. The singer in this song is from the tropical island of Hawaii. He is playing the ukulele, which is the national instrument of Hawaii. The singer’s music and his high aspirations of himself and others helped to get Hawaii noticed and create a better life and rights for other Hawaiians.
Video of Israel "IZ" Kamakiwiwo singing Somewhere over the rainbow.
Week 4 (Communication)
African tribes value the importance of communication with others so much that they use drums to communicate with other tribes to far away to talk to. The many different rhythms and sounds produced on a drum act a bit like words in a sentence. Put together and they create messages. Tribes use drums to ask for help, to warn of danger and even to invite other tribes to parties.
Video of African Uniques traditional Dance and Music group - Djembe Rhythms
Week 5 (Heroes)
Songs were an important part of the civil rights movement in the US. They motivated and helped keep spirits up during long marches.
Video of We Shall Overcome
Week 6 (Failure)
This music is from a brave country who lost everything during the second World War. When Japan finally saw that they had lost the war, they looked at all their failures. They thought about the suffering they had caused people and the millions of families they had hurt. They were sorry for what they had done and learnt from their mistakes. They are now a peaceful nation who work to make the world a better place.
Video of Traditional Japanese Music
A different video of Japanese music
Term 4
Week 2 (Power of Reading)
Born in London, Maya Sona Jobarteh's father comes from Gambia in west Africa. She plays an instrument called a kora and the first female kora player to become famous. The kora is a 21-stringed harp-like instrument. The instrument is an important element of the Mandingo peoples in West Africa and their playing is reserved only to certain families called Griot.
Video of Sona Jobarteh playing
Week 4 (Making good choices)
The music of Cuba is popular all over the world which is amazing because it is only a tiny island in the middle of the ocean.
The main roll of the music is for people to dance to.
Cuban people are very proud of their music and of their dance. They love sharing them with the rest of the world and have set up Salsa clubs in cities across the globe! Including Bristol!!
Video of cuban music
Week 6
This music is from India and the unusual instrument being played is called the Sitar. When it is not playing the melody (tune) it is playing the same note over and over again. This is called a drone. Like in other music we’ve heard, the rhythm is provided by the drums. These indian drums are called Tabla. If you squeeze the sides of a table, the drum skins are pulled and tightened changing the sound created when the table is hit.
Video of Indian music
