In the Hall of the Mountain King
Edvard Grieg
Alternative embedded performance: Iceland Symphony Orchestra performance. The preferred recording remains linked on YouTube.
First listen
Listen once without writing. What do you notice?
Listen closely
1 PULSECan you tap the steady beat?
Sentence stemThe beat feels ___.
Vocabulary
- steady
- strong
- clear
- marching
2 TEMPODoes the music stay the same speed?
Sentence stemThe music gets ___.
Vocabulary
- faster
- quicker
- more hurried
- the same
3 DYNAMICSHow does the loudness change?
Sentence stemIt begins ___ and becomes ___.
Vocabulary
- quiet
- soft
- loud
- very loud
4 TIMBREWhich instruments do you notice as the sound grows?
Sentence stemI can hear ___.
Vocabulary
- strings
- woodwind
- brass
- percussion
5 TEXTUREDo you hear one sound or many sounds near the end?
Sentence stemNear the end, the music has ___.
Vocabulary
- one sound
- many sounds
- more instruments
- thick layers
How does this piece make you feel?
There is no right or wrong answer. Which words match your response?
calmexcitedhopefulcuriousjoyfulpowerfulpeacefultensedreamybravethoughtfulenergeticmysteriouscomfortedrestlessproudsadsurprisedupliftedfocused
Music through time
1875 · Romantic orchestral
- Medieval500–1400
- Baroque1600–1750
- Classical1750–1820
- Romantic1820–1900
- 20th century1900–2000
- Contemporary2000–present