Classical Music for the Seasons Music for the Seasons    

Lesson 35: Preludes, Op. 28 - No. 3 'Thou Art So Like a Flower'

by Frédéric Chopin

Performer: European Archive

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

Spring swinging into summer, flowers thriving, and people basking in the sunshine, you'll continue to listen to selections that embody the freedom of summer. Listen to this music as you enjoy playing outside on the green grass. Written between 1835 and 1839, Frédéric Chopin's '24 Preludes, Op. 28' are a set of short compositions for the piano. Chopin dedicated 'Thou Art So Like a Flower' to Camille Pleyel, a pianist who owned the concert hall where Chopin played. This work is bright and sunny, like a flower gently waving in a field under a bright blue sky. Why might you compare something or someone to a flower? Flowers are beautiful, many smell nice, and just having them around can make people happy. Of course, whether this comparison is a compliment or an insult is dependent on the flower. Some flowers emit a smell like rotting meat to attract insects.

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: Draw and Define the Music

• One day this week, as you listen to the music, draw the parts of a flower.
• The main parts of a daisy flower are the stem, the leaves, the petals, and the disk.

Activity 3: Act Out the Music

• One day this week, as you listen to the music, pretend to be flowers in a windy field.
• Listen to the music, keep your feet together, extend your arms like petals, and wave back and forth to the music, like flowers blowing in gentle breeze. Don't move your feet, because your feet represent your stem and roots planted firmly in the ground.

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the music?

1 / 6

Answer 1

The title is 'Thou Art So Like a Flower.'

1 / 6

Question 2

Who composed the music?

2 / 6

Answer 2

The composer is Frédéric Chopin.

2 / 6

Question 3

What color is a daisy's petals?

3 / 6

Answer 3

A daisy's petals are (usually) white.

3 / 6

Question 4

What color is a daisy's central disk?

4 / 6

Answer 4

A daisy's central disk is yellow.

4 / 6

Question 5

What color is a daisy's stem and leaves?

5 / 6

Answer 5

A daisy's stem and leaves are green.

5 / 6

Question 6

Why might you compare someone to a flower?

6 / 6

Answer 6

You might compare someone to a flower if the person is beautiful to you, the person smells nice, and/or the person makes you happy. Of course, this comparison depends upon the particular flower, as some flowers are unattractive and smell of rotting meat.

6 / 6

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the music? The title is 'Thou Art So Like a Flower.'
2. Who composed the music? The composer is Frédéric Chopin.
3. What color is a daisy's petals? A daisy's petals are (usually) white.
4. What color is a daisy's central disk? A daisy's central disk is yellow.
5. What color is a daisy's stem and leaves? A daisy's stem and leaves are green.
6. Why might you compare someone to a flower? You might compare someone to a flower if the person is beautiful to you, the person smells nice, and/or the person makes you happy. Of course, this comparison depends upon the particular flower, as some flowers are unattractive and smell of rotting meat.

References

'Preludes (Chopin).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.