Class notes for fanfare project

1. Highlands Olympic Games 2017

2.  Listen to the audio examples
 Do you recognize any of these tunes?
 Which type of music is each example?
hw ff in
su lu

3.  Listen to the audio examples
 They all have some musical characteristics in
common.
 In groups, make a list with the common
musical characteristics
hw ff in
su lu

4.  Main purpose of a fanfare?
 Catch your attention
 Where can we hear them?
 Sport events
 Special occations/events
 Military ceremonies
 Favorite programmes
 History – Origin
 Originally used to
communicate over large
distances
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQvQM7qi9sk
Main characteristics?
Brass and percussion
Short
Dotted rhythms
Repeated patterns
Notes from the
harmonic series

5.  As a call to attention at large indoor or
outdoor occasions in large open spaces
 As a musical means of sending messages
across large open spaces
 To announce the arrival of a monarch,
special person, competitor or hero
 To honour the men and women killed in
action

6.  Short, loud piece aimed at calling people to
attention.
 To advertise that “something is going to
happen”

7.  Performed on brass and percussion
instruments
 Fanfare melodies are based on the harmonic
series
 Strong rhythmic character often using
repeated rhythms (dotted rhythms and
triplets) and repeated notes at the same
pitch
 Imitation

8.  The harmonic series describe the pitches we
get when we divide a string in the following
fractions:
 1/1 – 1/2 - 1/3 – 1/4 - 1/5 etc.

9. C
C
G
C
E
G
http://www.philtulga.com/harmonics.html

10. C
C
G
C
E
G
http://www.philtulga.com/harmonics.html

11.  This gives us the following notes if the first
note is c:

12. These notes, C, E and G, give us the
notes on step one, three and five in
a C-major scale:
Use online app to compose fanfare:
http://www.philtulga.com/Sequence.html

13.  Dotted rhythms
 A dot adds the half of the note value to the note
 Dotted rhythms make the melody more active or
energetic
 “Here comes the King”

14.  Triplets
 A triplet indicate that you have to play three notes in
the time of two
 The use of triplets also make the melody more active or
energetic

15.  Invent your own rhythms (dotted rhythms and/or
triplets) Or use some of the rhythms provided
 Compose your own melody using the notes from
the harmonic series (1st, 3rd and 5th note from
the scale): c, e and g
 Use repeated patterns or imitation if possible

16.  Indiana Jones
Imitation/repeated idea
Dotted rhythm

17.  Indiana Jones
Imitation/repeated idea
Each line start with the same idea

18.  Superman – Intro (followed by bass ost.)
 Main Theme
Imitation/repeated idea
Triplets
Triplets
Dotted rhythms

19.  Superman – Intro (followed by bass ost.)
Imitation/repeated idea
Each line starts the same way

20.  Darth Vader theme
 Luke Skywalker
Imitation/repeated idea
Triplets
Dotted rhythms

21.  Revise your Bass Ostinato
 Play it on a low c
 Timbre: Low strings
 Revise your Fanfare melody from last class
 Timbre: brass
 Play both melody and B.O. together.
 Repeat the melody so it lasts for around 30 seconds

22.  Revise your Bass Ostinato and Melody
 Add a Drone
 Long sustained note on C
 Or octaves: C and C
 Or two notes: C and G

23. FANFARE
CULTURAL
UNDERSTANDING
Where is it
from, when was
it written, who
is it important
to?
Fanfares: across ages and cultures, royal
courts, glorification of individuals, military
uses, as a musical symbol of strength,
heroism etc.
What is this
music for?
What is its
purpose, its
context, what
does it try to
achieve?
Call to attention.
Often used in royal courts.
Used to greet / glorify / announce the arrival
of someone.
Often played at ceremonial or special
occasions.
Heard in large spaces indoors or
outdoors.
Used to send outdoor messages.
To honour those killed in action.
To describe by association a particular
occasion or image.
As a dramatic cliché in a film,
music theatre etc.
CRITICAL
UNDERSTANDING
What are the
musical
conventions,
processes,
devices and
aspects of
musical
elements that
make it unique?
Short, loud pieces aimed at calling
people to attention. Performed by brass
and percussion instruments.
Fanfare melodies are based on the
harmonic series.
Strong rhythmic character often using
repeated rhythms, dotted rhythms and
triplets) and repeated notes at the
same pitch.
Imitation features within fanfare
textures along with chordal passages.
Outcome
Composing a fanfare
for Highlands
Olympic Games
that grabs people’s
attention.