Sweet Honey In The Rock Friday, March 13, 2009 Grades 7-12 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET About the Company Founded by Bernice Johnson Reagon in 1973 at the D.C. Black Repertory Theater Company, internationally renowned a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock ® has been a vital and innovative presence in the music culture of Washington, D.C., and in communities around the world. Rooted in a deeply held commitment to create music out of the rich textures of African American legacy and traditions, Sweet Honey In The Rock ® possesses a stunning vocal prowess that captures the complex sounds of blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, hip hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz improvisation. Sweet Honey’s collective voice, occasionally accompanied by hand percussion instruments, produces a sound filled with soulful harmonies and intricate rhythms. In the best and in the hardest of times, Sweet Honey In The Rock ® has come in song to communities across the U.S., and around the world raising her voice in hope, love, justice, peace, and resistance. Sweet Honey invites her audiences to open their minds and hearts and think about who we are and how we treat each other, our fellow creatures who share this planet, and, of course, the planet itself. About the Program During this performance and demonstration, students learn how the ensemble uses their collective voice as an instrument along with a variety of percussion instruments like the cow bell, tambourine, and African rhythmic instruments. The Grammy Award ® –winning group discusses how they blend musical idioms and styles to create a sound that can only be described as sweet in songs like “This Little Light of Mine” and “The Civil Rights Medley.” A Cappella – Italian for ‘in church or chapel style’ of music and a type of vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment. Members of an a cappella group use their voices to replace and imitate all the instruments of a band such as percussion and bass. The style of a cappella music ranges from gospel and sacred chants to barber shop quartets and vocal jazz.
Transcript
Sweet Honey In The RockFriday, March 13, 2009
Grades 7-1211 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
About the CompanyFounded by Bernice Johnson Reagon in 1973 at the D.C. Black Repertory Theater Company, internationally renowned a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock® has been a vital and innovative presence in the music culture of Washington, D.C., and in communities around the world.
Rooted in a deeply held commitment to create music out of the rich textures of African American legacy and traditions, Sweet Honey In The Rock® possesses a stunning vocal prowess that captures the complex sounds of blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, hip hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz improvisation. Sweet
Honey’s collective voice, occasionally accompanied by hand percussion instruments, produces a sound filled with soulful harmonies and intricate rhythms.
In the best and in the hardest of times, Sweet Honey In The Rock® has come in song to communities across the U.S., and around the world raising her voice in hope, love, justice, peace, and resistance. Sweet Honey invites her audiences to open their minds and hearts and think about who we are and how we treat each other, our fellow creatures who share this planet, and, of course, the planet itself.
About the Program During this performance and demonstration, students learn how the ensemble uses their collective voice as an instrument along with a variety of percussion instruments like the cow bell, tambourine, and African rhythmic instruments. The Grammy Award®–winning group discusses how they blend musical idioms and styles to create a sound that can only be described as sweet in songs like “This Little Light of Mine” and “The Civil Rights Medley.”
A Cappella – Italian for ‘in church or chapel style’ of music and a type of vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment. Members of an a cappella group use their voices to replace and imitate all the instruments of a band such as percussion and bass. The style of a cappella music ranges from gospel and sacred chants to barber shop quartets and vocal jazz.
Percussion Instruments Percussion music, perhaps more than any other, is music of touch. Percussionists use bare hands, sticks, and mallets to strike, scrape, rub, slap, and tap surfaces of metal, animal hide, wood, or plastic. The percussion instruments are an international family, with ancestors from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe representing musical styles from many different cultures. Throughout history, people have created percussion music for personal expression, public ceremony, and pure pleasure. From log drums in Africa’s rainforests to tribal drums on America’s Great Plains to bronze gongs in ancient Southeast Asia, people made rhythms that enriched their lives. Many of these beats still go on today.
Tambourine – a shallow, handheld drum made of a circular wooden frame with a calfskin or plastic drumhead stretched across the top. The tambourine has small discs called jingles set into its circular frame which produce sound when the tambourine is shaken, rubbed, or struck on the drum head.
Kalimba – also known as a thumb piano, this small hollow box has keys attached to the top made up of reeds or tines which are plucked with the thumb or fingers. The vibrations are amplified by a box resonator or sounding board.
Cow Bell – a type of bell that does not have a clapper. The cow bell is played as a percussion instrument by being struck with a drumstick.
Rhythm sticks – hardwood cylindrical sticks that are struck against one another to produce sound.
Shekere – a dried gourd that is covered with a woven net of beading. The shekere is made from small gourds that grow on the ground. The shape of the gourd determines the sound of the instrument and it is played by being twisted, shaken, or slapped.
Caxixi Rattles – a closed basket with a flat-bottom. The rattle is filled with seeds or other small particles that produce a sound when shaken.
DVDsSinging For Freedom: A Concert for the Child in Each of US. Music for Little People, 1995.Sweet Honey In The Rock: Raise Your Voice. Firelight Media, 2005.
RecordingsSweet Honey In The Rock.Experience…101. Appleseed, 2007;Still the Same Me. Rounder Kids, 2000;I Got Shoes. Music for Little People, 1994;All for Freedom, Music for Little People, 1989.
ActivityMost of the songs you will hear during the program were written by members of Sweet Honey In The Rock. These songs reflect lessons that the women of Sweet Honey In The Rock have learned and would like to share with audiences. Study the lyrics of “4 U 2 Know As U Grow” and “Education is the Key.” Next, study the adinkra symbol and its meaning beside each song title. After you have reviewed the lyrics, reflect on some of your own life experiences and the lessons you have learned and write your own lyrics. Next draw a symbol that represents the lesson and the lyrics that you wrote.
4 U 2 Know As U GrowMusic & Lyrics – Carol MaillardSpoken Word – Jordan Maillard Ware2006 4 Jagadish Musci (BMI)
It’s the little things you do for someone elseIt’s the kindness that you showwithout being askedNever looking for rewards for being nice
Chorus:These are some things for you toknowAs you growSome simple things in life to knowAs you grow
Now you don’t always have to win or be number oneJust play the game dive in and have big funYou’ll see the journey is as wonderfulas the goal
(Chorus)
There are some who have a little morethan youAnd there are some who have a lot
less it’s trueWhat you possess can’t measure whatyou are worth
(Chorus)
Spoken:As you’re growing up, a positive balanceWhen you have to face a challengeCan only make you strong,Hold on! You’ll pass the test.You’ll make the grade, so don’t forget
Sung: ALLYou’re a child of God, honor yourselfBe brave, humble and trueListen to your inner voice, it’s alwaysthere for you…
For you…Respect your elders they deservethat from youProtect the little ones who watcheverything you doTreat other people how you want to betreated yourself
(Chorus)
When things get difficult, think positivelyCount your blessings when you wakeand before you sleepA grateful heart is something God lovesto see…
(Repeat Chorus)
Sweet Honey In The RockFriday, March 13, 2009
Grades 7-1211 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
Education Is The KeyMusic & Lyrics – Louise Robinson2006 Earth to Aisha (ASCAP)
It’s time for learning and I canhardly waitThe school bell rings at half past 7And you know I don’t wanna be late(No, no, no, you don’t want to be late)
I love to learn about places nearAnd farI love to learn about the planets andthe stars
I love to count into infinityI love physics, social studies and worldgeography
Chorus:Education!!! (Is the key) to thefuture!!!Education!!! (It’s for me, yes, for me)The future’s mine, I’ll take it (Take it)With my education, I just can’t fake itEducation!!! Is the keyEducation!!! It’s for me
I like to exercise and sports I like to playI like to read so much, I do itevery day
It’s fun to learn about people notlike meThe food they eat, the clothes theywearand their economy
My thing is musicI just love the different beatsWith harmony that rocks so hardI can hardly keep my seat
(Chorus)
Education is the key!!!!Who blessed the child that had its very own?Billie Holiday!!!!Where are the pyramids of Egyptstanding tall?Africa!!!!4 times 4 times 2 iswhat?64!!!!The introduction to a musical piece iscalled what?An overture!!!!
(Chorus)
Sometimes it seems like I can’t getit rightAnd then I learn to take my time untilI see the lightYeah!!!!
Edu – (to the) – cat – (to the) ion – Say it again
