Books with author Robin Bennett

The latest in this popular series provides a lively, basic introduction to opera. Examples from various periods and countries with themes such as serious, tragic, comic, legend, historical and fairy tale. Duets, trios, ensembles, chorus and orchestral selections are included in examples, from The Magic Flute to the Snow Maiden and Porgy and Bess. The operas were chosen for their appeal to pupils through their exciting plots and varied musical styles. For the main opera in each unit the stories are told in simple language usually with the music and words of one or two songs. The follow-up section contains questions, games and other activities involving listening, performing and some composing. To make the operas simple and accessible and to help pupils, all the material has been translated into easily understood English. There is an accompanying cassette.

Designed to provide teachers and GCSE pupils with an accessible collection of easy-to-follow scores, this text provides basic material for general listening lessons. The book contains 45 scores, selected from a variety of composers from the 17th to the 20th centuries, of different lengths and types including single and two stave, keyboard, songs, string quartet, vocal and a few simple orchestral scores in miniature score format. Descriptions and diagrams are given of each musical form or structure. Preceding each score there is a brief introduction to the particular piece of music, with points for pupils to investigate or listen for in the music. After listening to the scores on the accompanying cassette, there are follow-up questions, some related to the form and structure of the music and others concerned with basic concepts important to the listening element of the GCSE syllabus, such as instrumentation, voices, key and tonality, cadences, accompaniment, mood and character. Also included are five projects, offering opportunities for revision and further exploration of other pieces varied in type, style and period.This book is a Cambridge University Press publication from July 1995.

Listening Scores provides pupils with practical experience in following musical scores and understanding them in relation to the musical forms, structures and types of composition covered in the accompanying books. Examples include the suite, sonata, symphony, concerto grosso and solo concerto, chamber music, overture, ballet, oratorio, lieder, chorale.