Classical Music in Pictures Music in Pictures    

Lesson 26: Manhattan Beach

by John Philip Sousa

Performer: United States Marine Band

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

John Philip Sousa wrote 'Manhattan Beach' in honor of the Manhattan Beach Park Hotel in New York City, a lavish beach resort for well-to-do New Yorkers. Sousa both stayed at the hotel and performed his commemorative piece here.

Vocabulary

March: Walk in a military manner with a regular measured tread.
Brass Instruments: Brass wind instruments (including trumpet, horn, trombone) forming a band or a section of an orchestra.
New York City: Located on the east coast, the largest city in the United States of America.
Manhattan: One of five boroughs in New York City, mostly located on an island.
Beach: A pebbly or sandy shore, especially by the ocean between high- and low-water marks.

Composer

1. John Philip Sousa was born in 1854 in Washington, D.C., United States. See his picture below.

2. Zoom in and find Sousa's city of birth (labeled DC) on the map of United States below.

3. He started playing the violin at the age of six and later studied an additional seven instruments including piano, flute, and trombone.
4. He served as an apprentice, director, and composer for the United States Marine Band at various times during his career. He eventually formed his own band and toured the world.
5. He also invented a brass instrument called the sousaphone.
6. Sousa is well known for the patriotic marches he composed. A 'march' is music for marching and features a strong beat. Marches are often played by military bands.
7. As you listen to Sousa's compositions, march to the music and form your own parade.
8. Sousa died of heart failure in 1932 at the age of 77.

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, Edward Henry Potthast's 'Happy Days'

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

• Red Bucket
• Boys
• Girls
• Sand
• Water
• Rocks
• Waves
• Sky
• Hair Bows

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, Edward Henry Potthast's 'Happy Days'

Edward Henry Potthast captured many images of New York beaches, including in his work 'Happy Days' which shows children frolicking on the beach. Boys wearing shorts and tank tops and girls in bloomers and dresses wade in the water, some venturing out into the waves to swim. Three children in the foreground bend down and point at something they've spotted in the water. Perhaps they've spotted a pretty shell or a sea creature.

Activity 4: Parade to the Music

• Listen to the music, line up single file, and have a parade around your house.
• If you have instruments you can carry, such as a drum, maracas, flutes, harmonicas, etc. play them as you march in your parade.

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the music?

1 / 3

Answer 1

The title is 'Manhattan Beach.'

1 / 3

Question 2

Who composed the music?

2 / 3

Answer 2

The composer is John Philip Sousa.

2 / 3

Question 3

What is a beach?

3 / 3

Answer 3

A beach is a pebbly or sandy shore, especially adjacent to the ocean.

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the music? The title is 'Manhattan Beach.'
2. Who composed the music? The composer is John Philip Sousa.
3. What is a beach? A beach is a pebbly or sandy shore, especially adjacent to the ocean.

References

'John Philip Sousa.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Manhattan Beach (march).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.