Aim: How can melodies be transformed through ornamentation?
Summary: Students will sing “Rabba,” and learn how melodies can be modified using ornamentation.
Materials: Musical Explorers online audio, chart paper, colored pencils or markers, collage materials, scarves
Standards:
GA: MK-2GM.1, MK-2GM.6, MK-2GM.7, MK-2GM.9, MK-2GM.10 SC: GM.PR.NL-AH.3, GM.RE.NL-AH.6, GM.RE.NL-AH.7, GM.CN.NL-AH.8, GM.CN.NL-AH.9
Vocabulary: improvisation, melody, ornamentation
Sing “Rabba”
- Listen to “Rabba,” Track 5.1.
Track 5.1 – “Rabba” Song
- Learn the lyrics using “Rabba” pronunciation, Track 5.2.
Track 5.2 – “Rabba” Pronunciation
- Learn “Rabba” unornamented chorus melody, Track 5.3.
Track 5.3 – “Rabba” Unornamented
- Listen to “Rabba” ornamented chorus melody, Track 5.4.
Track 5.4 – “Rabba” Ornamented
- Explain that when a musician decorates a melody by adding more notes (called ornaments) it is called ornamentation.
- Listen to “Rabba,” Track 5.1 again, and sing along to the ornamented melody on the chorus.
“Rabba”
[original lyrics]
ere 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)
“Rabba”
[translated lyrics]
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, Track 5.3.
Track 5.3 – “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, Track 5.4.
Track 5.4 – “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
- Explain again that when a musician decorates a melody by adding more notes (called ornaments) it is called ornamentation.
- Explain that 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 and Textiles of India
Indian silk is known for its beautiful weaves, designs and colors. Each area of India has distinct fabric patterns special to that region. Look at the Indian fabric map on SG 34. Locate where Falu’s songs, “Rabba” and “Allahoo” (Paithani/Rabba & Panja Weave/Allahoo) come from and the silk design that goes with them.
- Which silk pattern do you like best? Why?
- Using the map for inspiration, create your own silk design in the following SG 35. Think about using your favorite color and a symbol or design that shares something unique to you.
- If students need more guidance, remind them that just like an ornamented melody they can add design to a basic shape to create a pattern. Students can also add ornaments one at a time to a basic shape, using different colors, patterns, and collage materials.
- Observe and discuss how ornamentation has transformed the basic shapes.
Literacy Link: My Mother’s Sari
In My Mother’s Sari by Sandhya Rao, children write an ode to the garment worn by their mothers.
Musical Word Wall
Review the word improvisation, and add the words melody and ornamentation to the Musical Word Wall.
Audio Tracks
Track 5.4 – “Rabba” Ornamented
Track 5.3 – “Rabba” Unornamented
Track 5.2 – “Rabba” Pronunciation
Track 5.1 – “Rabba” Song
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