Classical Music for the Seasons Music for the Seasons    

Lesson 19: Etude Op. 25 no. 1 in A flat major - 'Aeolian Harp' or 'Shepherd Boy'

by Frédéric Chopin

Performer: Edward Neeman

Directions

Study the musical selection for one week.

Over the week:

• Each day, listen to the musical selection. Can you picture the poor shepherd boy shivering and sheltering from a cold winter storm as you listen?
• Practice reciting the title of the composition and the composer's name.
• Read the synopsis.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Bundling up under the covers, making snowmen and snow angels, sledding over the snow, and icicles dangling from gutters, you'll continue to listen to selections that embody the winter season. If you live in a snowy area, play this music, enjoy some hot cocoa, and watch the snow drift down from the sky. Frédéric Chopin composed 'Aeolian Harp' or 'Shepherd Boy' in 1836. An Aeolian Harp is an instrument made of a box and strings that is played by the wind. People place Aeolian Harps in open windows to let the wind play the music. This piece is also called 'Shepherd' boy because Chopin reportedly advised his students to picture a poor shepherd boy taking refuge from a cold storm as they played the piece.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Describe the Music

After listening to the music, describe and discuss what you heard.

Read the list of adjectives below. Select those that describe the music or think up additional adjectives.

• Happy
• Sad
• Quiet
• Loud
• Fast
• Slow
• Scary
• Dreamy
• Magical
• Rhythmic
• Dignified

Activity 2: Review Facts about Shepherds

• A shepherd or sheepherder is a person who raises and tends sheep.
• Shepherds protect their sheep against predators such as wolves.
• Shepherds used to use crooks, or long poles with a hook on one end, to guide their sheep.

Activity 3: Draw a Shepherd Boy

• One day this week, as you listen to the music, color, draw, or sketch a shepherd boy with a crook sheltering from a cold winter storm.

Review

Question 1

What are the titles of the music?

1 / 3

Answer 1

The titles are 'Aeolian Harp' and 'Shepherd Boy.'

1 / 3

Question 2

Who composed the music?

2 / 3

Answer 2

The composer is Frédéric Chopin.

2 / 3

Question 3

What is 'Shepherd Boy' about?

3 / 3

Answer 3

'Shepherd Boy' may be about a young sheep herder taking refuge from a cold storm.

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. What are the titles of the music? The titles are 'Aeolian Harp' and 'Shepherd Boy.'
2. Who composed the music? The composer is Frédéric Chopin.
3. What is 'Shepherd Boy' about? 'Shepherd Boy' may be about a young sheep herder taking refuge from a cold storm.

References

'Étude Op. 25, No. 1 (Chopin).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.