Classical Music for the Seasons Music for the Seasons    

Lesson 23: Romeo and Juliet

by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Performer: Skidmore College Orchestra

Directions

Study the musical selection for one week.

Over the week:

• Each day, listen to the musical selection.
• Practice reciting the title of the composition and the composer's name.
• Read the synopsis.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Showing kindness and appreciation, planning happy surprises, and thinking of those you love, in honor of the Valentine's season, you'll continue to listen to selections that represent love and affection for family and friends. Pyotr Tchaikovsky based 'Romeo and Juliet (Overture-Fantasia)' on the Shakespeare's play of the same name. His initial version was not a success with the audience, but he persisted, rewriting the work. The revised work was published in 1870. There are three parts - the first part is foreboding of the tragedy to come, the second part is warlike with symbols crashing and symbolizes the fight between the families of Romeo and Juliet, and the third and most famous part emotes the love between Romeo and Juliet.

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: Study a Painting of Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet were two characters in a play who fell in love. In the painting below, Romeo has climbed up to Juliet's balcony to visit her.

Find the following items in the below painting of Romeo and Juliet:

• Juliet
• Romeo
• Balcony
• Railing
• Rope
• Hook
• Flowers
• Kiss
• Horizon

Activity 3: Practice Reciting Famous Lines from Shakespeare's play, 'Romeo and Juliet'

As you listen to the music, recite the following five lines from 'Romeo and Juliet.' Don't be afraid to inject some dramatic body movements into your recitations.

1) O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

• (Pretend to be Juliet looking around for Romeo.)

2) That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

• (If we called a rose a 'skunk,' it would still smell nice. The name we call things cannot change their physical characteristics.)

3) My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite.

• (When it comes to love, the more we give to others the more we receive in return.)

4) Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow

• (Parting, or saying goodbye, is both sorrowful because Romeo and Juliet will be parted and sweet because they can look forward to the next time they can be together.)

5) A pair of star-cross'd lovers

• (Romeo and Juliet were star-cross'd because they had very bad luck in the play.)

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the music?

1 / 3

Answer 1

The title is 'Romeo and Juliet.'

1 / 3

Question 2

Who composed the music?

2 / 3

Answer 2

The composer is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

2 / 3

Question 3

What is 'Romeo and Juliet' about?

3 / 3

Answer 3

The composition, 'Romeo and Juliet,' is based on Shakespeare's play of the same name.

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the music? The title is 'Romeo and Juliet.'
2. Who composed the music? The composer is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
3. What is 'Romeo and Juliet' about? The composition, 'Romeo and Juliet,' is based on Shakespeare's play of the same name.

References

'Romeo and Juliet (Tchaikovsky).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Romeo and Juliet.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.