Assembly Song of the Week

"Armed Forces Medley"

Elements of Music Series
Rhythm
Musicians of the Week:
Infinitus, the beat boxing string trio

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Tuesday

Listening Example:  "Anthem"

This week, we are going to learn about the first element of music, rhythm.  When you’re listening to a song, and your feet start tapping, or you start clapping, that’s rhythm.  The rhythm of the music is the beat.  It is the steady thump you may hear in the background of a song.  Some rhythms are slow, like in most of the classical music from Beethoven or Bach that we have heard before.  Some rhythms are fast, like what you might hear in techno or rap music.  ​

Infinitus is a group of three musicians who know how important rhythm is.  They all play stringed instruments and have found a way to incorporate beat boxing, or using your voice to imitate drums, into their music, while they play their instruments.  Today’s Listening Example is “Anthem” by Infinitus.  While you listen, I want you to find the beat.  Is it fast or slow?  Can you tell that those beats are made by human voices, rather than a musical instrument like a drum?

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Wednesday

Listening Example:  "Lullaby in Birdland"

Rhythm is what gives music it’s tempo.  Tempo means how fast or slow music is.  Rhythm also gives the song life through various note lengths.  Rhythm also gives the song life through various note lengths.  A whole note, like you see at the top of the pyramid, is held for 4 counts, or beats.  Then, a half note is half of a whole note, and is held for 2 counts, or beats.  

The musicians of Infinitus met in college at the University of Michigan.  Violist Anthony Cheung, cellist Alex Cheung, and violinist John “Adidam” Littlejohn were best friends in college and decided to form their group.  These young men are not only talented, but they are creative as well.  In an interview recently, one of them stated:  Although “Infinitus” is the Latin root for “Infinity” – no limits or boundaries – our name is more of a dream than a reality. In fact, it’s been our limitations that have made creativity a necessity, and as a result we’ve taken many aspects of our career into our own hands.
For instance:  We couldn’t find great arrangements –> We made our own.  Some of those arrangements needed a beat –> We learned to beatbox and play.  No original repertoire composed for a beatboxing string trio –> We composed our own.  We needed a recording of those compositions and arrangements –> We learned how to produce and record an album.  We needed graphics for that album –> We learned how to use Photoshop.​

​Today’s Listening Example is “Lullaby in Birdland” by Infinitus.  In the beginning of the music you will hear whistling.  Notice how some of the notes that the bird whistles are longer and some are shorter.  That is the rhythm of the piece.  “Lullaby in Birdland” is the most recent video from Infinitus.  

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Thursday

Listening Example:  "Machinatio"