Night on a Bare Mountain
Modest Mussorgsky
If the video is blocked by your school network, use one of the direct listening links.
First listen
Listen once without writing. What do you notice?
Listen closely
1 PITCHDoes the melody rise, fall or move in both directions?
Sentence stemThe melody ___.
Vocabulary
- rises
- falls
- moves up and down
- stays similar
2 TIMBREWhich instruments create the strongest sound?
Sentence stemThe strongest sound comes from ___.
Vocabulary
- strings
- woodwind
- brass
- percussion
3 DYNAMICSWhere does the music become most powerful?
Sentence stemThe music is most powerful when it becomes ___.
Vocabulary
- louder
- very loud
- suddenly loud
- gradually louder
4 PULSEDoes the pulse stay steady or feel unsettled?
Sentence stemThe pulse feels ___ when ___.
Vocabulary
- steady
- unsettled
- rushing
- hard to predict
5 TEXTUREHow do the instrumental layers build tension?
Sentence stemThe texture becomes ___ as ___.
Vocabulary
- thicker
- busier
- more layered
- more instruments enter
How does this piece make you feel?
There is no right or wrong answer. Which words match your response?
calmexcitedhopefulcuriousjoyfulpowerfulpeacefultensedreamybravethoughtfulenergeticmysteriouscomfortedrestlessproudsadsurprisedupliftedfocused
Music through time
1867 · Romantic orchestral
- Medieval500–1400
- Baroque1600–1750
- Classical1750–1820
- Romantic1820–1900
- 20th century1900–2000
- Contemporary2000–present