More info on Brian Crisp workshop

Here are some more notes about Brian's workshop scheduled for Saturday, April 4, at the WVU Creative Arts Center, Room 424 from 9 am to 1 pm. See previous post for the workshop flyer.

It’s Elementaria: From Exploration to Composition
After developing Orff-Schulwerk with Gunild Keetman, Carl Orff reflected upon the elemental musical style identified with the Gunterschule and Musik fur Kinder. At the 1963 opening of the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Orff commented on elemental music:

Elemental music is pertaining to the elements, primeval, rudimentary, treating of first principles. It is never music alone but forms a unity with movement, dance, and speech. It is music one makes oneself, in which one takes part not as listener, but as a participant. It is unsophisticated, employs no big forms ad no big architectural structures, and it uses small sequence forms, ostinato and rondo. Elemental music is near the earth, natural, physical, within the range of everyone to learn it and experience it, and suitable for the child (Carl Orff, 1963).

From these simple ideas, Gunild Keetman created elegant melodies and simple,yet, exquisite forms. Coupling her lesser known pieces from the original GermanMusik fur Kinder Volumes and other source works with her pedagogical ideasfound in Elementaria, we will explore practical and thoughtful models forstudent compositions. This workshop will integrate singing, playing, speakingand dancing into well processed lessons that foster joyful learning andcritical thinking.

Directions to the Creative Arts Center:

*From Interstate 79, take Star City/West Virginia University Exit 155
*From the exit ramp, turn right.
*Pass University Town Center.
*Follow the road as it merges with US19/WV Route 7. Cross the Star City bridge which crosses the Monongahela River.
*Go through the first light after the bridge and drive up the hill.
*Pass the WVU Coliseum on the right and continue straight through second light.
*Turn left at third light, then turn left again and enter WVU Creative Arts Center Parking Lot

Looking forward to seeing you all there!