sharp_as_knives: (Default)
sharp_as_knives ([personal profile] sharp_as_knives) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2014-05-13 11:32 am
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Music Appreciation, Tuesday period 2

Hannibal nodded at the students once they were seated. "Today we will begin with a bit of opera. For those of you who may not be aware," he nodded at the students from other worlds, "opera is a musical form of drama. It tells a story in song, accompanied generally by an orchestra."

He wrote a title on the board. "Today we will listen to some of La Bohème, an opera by a composer named Giacomo Puccini. It was originally performed in 1896, and set in Paris in the 1840s." He smiled briefly at Cosette assuming she's there. "It follows a story of several bohemians - artists and such - and the romance of two of them, Rodolfo and Mimi."

He explained the plot briefly and then played excerpts from a traditional production. When that was done, he said, "Also, there has been a more recent production, set in the 1950s. As one example of how to modernize opera, we have this."

//On the other end of the spectrum,// Jono said, leaning back against a desk and holding up a CD for the class to see, //we have a more modern retelling still, prevalent on the Broadway stage, by the name of meta for RENT. They took it, set it in New York, and then worked in current themes and issues, such as drug abuse and homosexuality, and had AIDS taking the place of the tuberculosis from the original.// He wasn't going to launch into an explanation of those things for the less modern students in the class, because they would never get through the syllabus otherwise. He was learning! //The result is a rock musical that draws parallels to La Bohème in everything from plot elements and character names to samples of the music itself. Here...//

Jono put the disc into the CD player, hit a few buttons, and stood back, letting La Vie Bohème begin to play. Not work school appropriate? Did Jono look terribly as though he cared?

Did Hannibal? These were clearly the coolest teachers in school, you guys.

//Anyway, now that you've listened to three examples of the same, or at least a very similar story told differently over the years, I want us to take some time to discuss it. Talk about what emotions the three pieces made you feel, or discuss the differences in the lyrics and themes between them. If you want to listen to more of one or the other, feel free to ask, and we'll play whatever we have time for through the class period. If you have questions about any of the themes in any of the above, again, ask, and we'll do our best to answer whatever we can.//
notamascot: (Feeling Low)

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[personal profile] notamascot 2014-05-16 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Someone thought that morning shouldn't start till sometime after noon, yes.

"One p.m. would be fine," Kaylin said politely. "But you don't have to bring lunch."

She looked again at the food he had given her to bring home and decided to modify her statement. "Though it would be very kind of you."

She was actually very bright, which was partly why her teachers despaired of her when she wouldn't focus enough to learn. If you can get her attention and interest, though...

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-05-16 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Hannibal chuckled. "One thing you will learn in this class if nothing else, Ms Neya - I adore feeding people."

He nodded to her and got up, packing the food neatly for her. "In that case, I will see you at one p.m. Sunday in office number five upstairs. Now, please." He held out the package of food. "Go sleep."
notamascot: (Happy)

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[personal profile] notamascot 2014-05-16 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"I will," she said, taking the package gratefully. "I may sleep straight through to tomorrow!"

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[identity profile] never-dull.livejournal.com 2014-05-16 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"If you have classes tomorrow, let your teachers know," he reminded her. "Good day."
notamascot: (Default)

Re: Talk to the teachers!

[personal profile] notamascot 2014-05-16 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, don't worry, no classes tomorrow," she said as she started for the door. "I'll see you on Sunday."