All about Music: BachModuleEntertainment and Leisure

Unit: Appreciation of Music

Programme outlineJohann Sebastian Bach was a great man of music. He was a German composer, a conductor and an organist. He was famous for playing organ and teaching music. Interestingly, he was a father of twenty children. Some of them became musicians as well. Did you know? A recording of Bach’s music was brought to space in 1977. Some of his greatest works such as Brandenburg Concertos are still very popular nowadays. Come and watch the story of Bach’s life and find out what his music sounds like.

Key Stage 2 Learning Targets To develop an ever-improving capability to use English~ to identify ideas in simple spoken and written texts, form opinions and express

them (K.S.c)~ to respond to characters and events in imaginative and other narrative texts through

oral, written and performative means such as describing one’s feelings towards characters and events (E.S.b)

Communicative Functions1. Give a simple description of the famous German organist Johann Sebastian Bach

in terms of name, nationality, occupation, personal characteristics, habits and abilities, etc.

2. Draw others’ attention to Bach’s music and describe his work briefly3. Develop an interest in appreciating and talking about classical music

Suggested Activities1. Print out the pictures of Johann Sebastian Bach and an organ in COPYMASTER

1. Tell pupils that Bach was famous for his organ music. Organ music was often heard in churches.

2. Introduce briefly the programme before watching.3. After watching the programme, distribute COPYMASTER 2 to class.

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4. To check pupils’ understanding of Bach’s life and achievements, ask pupils to fill in the blanks with the words provided.

Suggested answers:a. Johann Sebastian Bach was a famous German composer.

b. His parents died when he was young. c. He had to live with his brother then.

d. He loved playing the organ after school when he was young. e. When he turned 18, he got a job as an organist in a church. f. He was a father of twenty children. He had to work very hard. g. He wrote music, conducted choirs, and taught in the church’s school. h. He was famous for his organ music.

i. He died at the age of 65 in 1750.5. For pupils who are interested in classical music, they are encouraged to do some

research on Bach’s music with a list in COPYMASTER 3. Note: The music samples are extracted from the TV programme so there are some

background noises and human reaction sounds.6. For those who are interested in reading biographies, they should be encouraged to

borrow books about Bach from the library. Teachers can ask them to hand in a piece of writing, a book report or a mini project about Johann Sebastian Bach or Bach’s organ music or Bach’s famous quotes or Bach’s family, etc., depending on pupils’ interests. For children who learn music are invited to play a piece of music in class and give a short oral presentation about Bach’s music or his life. Teachers can plan various after- watching activities relating to the four skills that best suit pupils’ abilities and interests.

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COPYMASTER 1 All about Music: Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750

The organ of Leipzig's St John's Church. Photo: Jens Volz

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COPYMASTER 2 All about Music: Bach

Choose and fill in the blanks.

British fifteen guitarist cousins 55

sister pop music 75 organ

drum taught played organist twenty

organ music German parents brother 65

a. Johann Sebastian Bach was a famous __________________composer. b. His __________________ died when he was young.

c. He had to live with his __________________ then.

d. He loved playing the__________________ after school when he was

young.

e. When he turned 18, he got a job as an__________________ in a

church.

f. He was a father of __________________ children. He had to work very

hard.

g. He wrote music, conducted choirs, and __________________ in the

church’s school.

h. He was famous for his__________________.

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i. He died at the age of __________________ in 1750.COPYMASTER 3

All about Music: Bach

Do you like Bach’s music? Listen.

1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major

2. Prelude and Fugue in C Major

3. Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring

4. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

5. Air on the G string

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