The Magic Flute

If you haven't treated yourself to a good helping of opera lately, you should give "The Magic Flute" a chance. Don't look at it as that dreaded side dish but rather dive right in to the entree and sheer "magic" of Mozart's fun-filled side. Opera is not all serious and many of my students have found this opera to be very enjoyable.

The bird-catcher in "The Magic Flute" is Papageno, a comical character. He plays a pan pipe and some magic bells. Tamino, an Egyptian prince, is the hero of the story and the player of the magic flute. They seek to rescue Pamina, the princess, who has been carried off by a sorcerer.

After you've given your students a little background on the composer himself, get your little audience "listening ready." Even though these clips are samplers, they are good for getting your students ready for what is in store when they listen to the entire performance.

"The Magic Flute" listening resources can be found at: Classical Archives

"The Magic Flute" listening lesson:

1. Listen to the overture and discuss -- Opening chords: Ask the class to think of two or three adjectives that describe the emotion that is expressed. Then think of colors, smells, movements, shapes, sizes, textures, that "feel" the same way. (example: happy, sad, comic, etc.)

2. Listen to an aria:
A) Discuss the voice types: Which type of voice sings the aria? (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, etc.)
B) Discuss how the elements in the music can change a person's reaction to it: If the aria were staccato, (short, crisp) instead of legato, (smooth, long), would it create a different emotion and why?

Some trivia that may interest the learners and a great way to tie in a mini-history lesson.

What was going on when Mozart wrote "The Magic Flute?"

# 1789: George Washington becomes the first President of the United States. The United States was only 13 years old.

# Mr. Christian stages a very real mutiny on the Bounty.

# Nine out of every ten Americans make a living by farming.

# Benjamin Franklin dies on April 17 in Philadelphia at the unheard-of age of 84. Philadelphia is the capital city of the United States and plans are underway to build a new capital city called Washington in honor of the first president.

# Nails cost so much that when a building burns down they are collected and reused.

# Pineapples are first planted in the Sandwich Islands, later known as Hawaii.

# The French Revolution has been raging out of control for two years. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette have been arrested while fleeing for their lives.

# The Bill of Rights is passed on December 15, 1791. Ten days earlier, the malnourished Mozart dies in poverty of typhoid fever at the age of 35. His Requiem remains unfinished.

Now for some fun online!

Want to be a composer?
Try this site to do a little composing with Mozart! And you don't even have to know how to read music! Mozart's Musikalisches Würfelspiel

If Mozart's Magic Flute still doesn't ring your "operatic bell," at least you can say you gave it a chance, but just so you don't leave feeling empty of operatic enthusiasm, why not try this link -- it's PURELY for FUN!

Another clever music site of interest is Strings in the Mountain.