Classical Music in Pictures Music in Pictures    

Lesson 20: Preludes, Op. 28 - No. 10 'The Night Moth'

by Frédéric Chopin

Performer: Ivan Ilic

Directions

Study the musical selection for one week.

Over the week:

• Each day, listen to the musical selection.
• Read the synopsis.
• Review the vocabulary terms.
• Read about the composer and practice reciting his or her name and the composition title.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Written between 1835 and 1839, Chopin's 24 Preludes, Op. 28, are a set of short piano compositions. Preludes are short musical pieces that often introduce more complex pieces. When Chopin wrote the Preludes, which are stand-alone versus introducing other pieces, critics criticized them for being too short and lacking structure. Chopin's prelude, 'The Night Moth,' features rapid cascading sequences of notes followed by brief pauses. You can imagine a moth taking flight, rapidly fluttering its wings, and then briefly touching down before taking off again.

Vocabulary

Prelude: Short musical pieces that often introduce more complex pieces, although Chopin's preludes stand alone.
Moth: A chiefly nocturnal insect related to the butterflies. It typically has a stout body, drab coloration, and wings that fold flat when resting.
Rapid: A fast pace.
Cascade: Musical notes tumbling down in a rush (music).

Composer

1. Frédéric Chopin was born in 1810 near Warsaw, Poland. See his picture below.

2. Zoom in and find Chopin's country of birth on the map of Europe below.

3. Chopin started piano lessons at an early age. It quickly became obvious that he was a child prodigy. By the time he was seven, Chopin gave concerts and wrote his first two piano compositions.
4. In his early thirties, Chopin suffered from serious health problems. He died of an unknown illness in 1849 at the age of 39.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Describe the Music

Listen to the music, and close your eyes and let yourself imagine. What do you picture as you listen to the music?

• After listening to the music, describe and discuss what you heard.
• Is the tempo of the music fast or slow, steady or changing?

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

• Cheerful
• Mournful
• Soft
• Noisy
• Vivacious
• Soothing
• Eerie
• Threatening
• Surreal
• Whimsical
• Rhythmic
• Grand

Activity 2: Study the Painting, Vincent van Gogh's 'Emperor Moth'

As you listen to the music, find the following in the painting:

• Moth
• Four Fake Eyes
• Red Berries
• Plants
• Wings
• Moth Body

After you study the painting, narrate the scene shown in the painting aloud using your own words.

Describe how the painting relates to the music.

Activity 3: Read About the Painting, Vincent van Gogh's 'Emperor Moth'

'Emperor Moth,' by Vincent van Gogh, is part of a series of paintings featuring butterflies and one moth. Wikipedia writes in its entry 'Butterflies (Van Gogh series),' 'The metamorphosis of the caterpillar into a butterfly was symbolic to Van Gogh of men and women's capability for transformation.'

Activity 4: Act Out the Music

Listen to the music. Can you imagine a moth flitting about, landing here and there?

Listen to the music, and mimic the motion of the moth represented by the music.

• Flap your arms (wings) and flutter here and there when the notes cascade quickly.
• When the notes slow and pause, land where you are.

Moths are attracted to light, so you may wish to zoom around a light source.

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the music?

1 / 3

Answer 1

The title is 'The Night Moth.'

1 / 3

Question 2

Who composed the music?

2 / 3

Answer 2

The composer is Frédéric Chopin.

2 / 3

Question 3

Describe the motion of the moth captured in this music.

3 / 3

Answer 3

In cycles, the moth takes off and flutters its wings, briefly lands, then flutters off again. The music reflects these movements of the moth.

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the music? The title is 'The Night Moth.'
2. Who composed the music? The composer is Frédéric Chopin.
3. Describe the motion of the moth captured in this music. In cycles, the moth takes off and flutters its wings, briefly lands, then flutters off again. The music reflects these movements of the moth.

References

'Frédéric Chopin.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

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