Sense of ensemble
NSW DEC Copyright 2015
Viewing guide
This resource, divided into eight video clips, contains an interview with Tim Freedman1 from The Whitlams2 and conductor Ben Northey3. The interview followed a concert at the Sydney Opera House by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and The Whitlams featuring arrangements of Tim’s songs. Further teaching resources can be found at the 'Resources for teachers' page on the Sydney Symphony website4.
In this first clip, Tim and Ben talk about bringing together two diverse ensembles.
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Listen for and take note of
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Tim speaking about songs being able to ‘bear the weight of arrangements and eighty instruments’
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Ben talking about ‘strong songs’.
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Make a note of the challenges and rewards they identify with this collaboration. What musical styles does the collaboration bring together?
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What was Tim referring to when he talked about songs being able to ‘bear the weight of arrangements and eighty instruments’?
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What do you think Ben meant by ‘strong songs’? Give some examples.
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Identify some challenges faced by the orchestra and discuss one of these in a group.
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Choose two contrasting musical examples representing two musical styles. Compare these two styles in regard to tone colour and dynamics and expressive techniques. Outline the similarities and differences in a table.
Links
- http://www.timfreedman.com/
- http://thewhitlams.com/
- http://www.benjaminnorthey.com/
- https://www.sydneysymphony.com/learning-and-engagement/schools-and-teachers/resources-for-teachers
Videos
Sense of ensemble
Working together
Songwriter and composer
