What's the music this week? w/c 18 April

This week it's all about: Television theme tunes

Due to it being William Shakespeare’s birthday after the Easter break, as per the school-wide acknowledgement, Friday, 22 April's MaBaL will be a day of all music composed in Shakespeare’s lifetime ie. 1554-1616. 

The musical Renaissance period lasted from 1400-1600AD and was a time of huge growth and development, with music becoming more expressive, varied and complex. 

Initially Religious music was still ubiquitous in the Renaissance period, but the church’s decline in influence meant that composers gained more artistic freedom and were allowed to write creative music for its own sake. There had been a recent revival of interest in ancient cultures, and composers began to take inspiration from the art and mythology of Ancient Greece and Rome, as well as from astronomy and mathematics. 

When primitive ways of notating music were developed in the Medieval period, composers were then able to document and share their pieces more easily, but they still had to be time-consumingly written out by hand. However, the invention of the printing press in 1439 allowed for much more widespread distribution, leading to a rich exchange of ideas across Europe. Furthermore, the growth of a bourgeois, upper-middle class meant that there was now a ready-made audience for written music, as music education flourished and increasing numbers learnt to read music. 

Tuesday to Thursday of the first week back after Easter will be Music entirely by Williams, Willys, Wills, Billys and Bills and what an ecletic mix that is prior to a trip back in time on Friday. Shakespear's (sic) sister is also involved then as it would be a shame to leave her out.

MABAL is music played through the school's tannoy system during break and lunch.  Chosen by Mr Taylor, Lead Teacher for Music, this is designed to offer exposure to the curriculum in different ways, and support pupils' appreciation of music.

The focus is on one theme each week across a genre, a country or from history.  The theme could also link to the season or an event in school, such as the production.  Any further suggestions are welcomed - pupils should see Mr Taylor or email a.taylor@priory.lancs.sch.uk