Lesson 1: Learning “Rabba”

Aim: How can melodies be transformed through ornamentation?
Summary: Students will sing “Rabba,” and learn how melodies can be modified using ornamentation.
Materials: chart paper, colored pencils or markers, collage materials, scarves, Musical Explorers online audio
Standards:
GA: ESGMK-2.CR.1, ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.PR.2, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.PR.3, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2
SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.2, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.6, MGK-2.7, MGK-2.8, MGK-2.9
Vocabulary: improvisation, melody, ornamentation
> See Glossary

“Rabba” Demo from Carnegie Hall Education on Vimeo.

Sing “Rabba”

Listen to “Rabba.”

savannahmusicfestival · 03 Rabba
Learn the lyrics using “Rabba” pronunciation.

savannahmusicfestival · 04 Rabba pronunciation
Learn the “Rabba” unornamented chorus melody.

savannahmusicfestival · 05 Rabba (unornamented)

A melody is the tune of the song, the part that you can hum along to.

Listen to the “Rabba” ornamented chorus melody.
savannahmusicfestival · 06 Rabba (ornamented)
Explain that when a musician decorates a melody by adding more notes (called ornaments) it is called ornamentation.
Listen to “Rabba” again, and sing along to the ornamented melody on the chorus.

savannahmusicfestival · 03 Rabb

“Rabba” Translation

Tere kaaran, tere kaaran, tere kaaran
Tere kaaran, tere kaaran, tere kaaran

Main to ho gayi jogan re tere pyaar mein
Main to ho gayi jogan re tere pyaar mein

Mere humdum mere humdum mere humdum,
Mere humdum mere humdum mere humdum,

Maine dekh li duniya re tere pyaar mein
Maine dekh li duniya re tere pyaar mein

Mhaaro dhola mhaaro dhola, mharo piya

Chorus:
Haayo rabba haay rabba
Haayo rabba haay rabba
Haayo rabba haay rabba
Haayo rabba haay rabba
(x2)

Mere dilbar mere dilbar mere dilbar
Mere dilbar mere dilbar mere dilbar

Maine paali duniya re tere pyaar mein
Maine paali duniya re tere pyaar mein

Mhaaro dhola mhaaro dhola mhaaro piya

(Chorus)
(x4)

For you, for you, for you
For you, for you, for you

I have become a wanderer searching for your love
I have become a wanderer searching for your love

My beloved, my beloved, my beloved
My beloved, my beloved, my beloved

I have seen the world searching for your love
I have seen the world searching for your love

My sweetheart, my love

Chorus:
O Lord help me
O Lord help me
O Lord help me
O Lord help me
(x2)

My beloved, my beloved, my beloved
My beloved, my beloved, my beloved

I have gained the world in your love
I have gained the world in your love

My sweetheart, my love

(Chorus)
(x4)

Discover Melodic Ornamentation in “Rabba”

Listen to “Rabba” unornamented chorus melody.

savannahmusicfestival · 05 Rabba (unornamented)
- Guide the students as they illustrate the melody with movement. They can use hand gestures, scarves, or full body movement.
Listen to “Rabba” ornamented chorus melody.

savannahmusicfestival · 06 Rabba (ornamented)
- Guide the students as they illustrate the melody with movement. They can use hand gestures, scarves, or full body movement.
  - How are the two melodies different? How are they the same?
  - Which do you like better and why?

Explore Improvisation through Ornamentation

In Indian music, singers like Falu add different ornaments to the melody each time they perform. This is a form of improvisation, in which musicians make up music on the spot.
Investigate how Falu ornaments the melody.
- Notice that she adds extra notes or pitches.
- Do the extra notes go up or down? Are they fast or slow? Smooth or spiky?
Demonstrate the process of ornamenting a long note, leading your students through call and response. Experiment with notes that go up and down from the long note. Start with slow, simple ornaments, and get faster and more intricate as your students gain confidence.
Invite students to make up their own ornaments, exploring their own voices.
- How does your voice feel when you are singing an ornament?
Experiment with ornamenting the melody of the “Rabba” chorus, first demonstrating and then asking for volunteers to give it a try. The rest of the class can add movement to illustrate the ornamentation.

Creative Extension: Visual Ornamentation

Start with some simple shapes on chart paper. Invite students to come up one at a time and add ornaments to the shapes, using different colors, patterns, and collage materials.
Observe and discuss how ornamentation has transformed the basic shapes.
Using My Paisley Design, SG11, guide students in creating their own paisley designs, using ornamentation.
Explain that Indian fabrics often use a traditional shape called paisley.
Research and share samples of Indian paisley fabrics.
Encourage students to add ornamentation both inside each paisley shape and between the shapes, as demonstrated in the fabric.