An overture is an instrumental composition that serves as an introduction to an extended work, in this case, a suite. It often establishes important themes and generally sets the tone for the entire work. Listening closely to the overtures of each version of The Nutcracker Suite will introduce students to the compositional style of both Tchaikovsky and Ellington, as well as to the varied sounds of the symphonic orchestra and jazz ensemble.
Discussion Activity
As a class, listen to the overture of each suite. Ask your students to identify the instruments being played. How is the instrumentation of the orchestra different from that of the big band and how do these instrumental choices help to set the mood of each piece? How would they describe the sounds and registers of the different instruments? Encourage your students to use familiar, descriptive words such as bright or dark, light or heavy, jubilant or somber. Colors can also be useful in describing the mood of the music or the timbre of a specific instrument.
Activity
Acquaint your students with the instruments of the orchestra and big band. Assign each student an instrument from either the symphonic or jazz orchestra. Have students draw a picture of their instrument on large pieces of paper. Listen to both overtures and have students hold up their drawings when they hear their instrument being played.
Alternatively, have students represent their assigned instrument through mime. Students should stand up and “play” their instrument when they hear it on the recordings. The class may also be divided into sections (ex. brass, reed, string, etc.), or instrumental families, and stand (or raise their hands) as a group when their instrumental section is heard.
