1. Which historical event does this piece represent?

2. When was this piece written?

3 & 4. What historical concept could we use this piece to explore?

In your groups, listen to the extract and consider one of the following

questions:

War Requiem: Benjamin Britten

• Composed 1961-2• For consecration ceremony of Coventry Cathedral (rebuilt after destroyed in Blitz in WW2)• Juxtaposes Latin mass with war poems of Wilfred Owen• Dedicated to four individuals who died as a result of the war• Including Britten’s close

friend who killed himself as a result of ‘shell-shock’

TASK: Write a word to describe the piece of music on your PostIt

We are going to:

Begin to interpret Britten’s War Requiem to assess the changing significance of World War One

1. Strings (including harp)

2. Voice

3. Percussion

Lines:

4. Wind/brass

Guns

SoldiersAngels

•In your groups, listen to the extract and decide what your ‘line’ represents and why.

•You will be asked to explain, using specific details from your own knowledge.

•For example, if you think your line represents the soldiers because it sounds ‘heavy’, you could link this to your knowledge of the equipment soldiers had to carry.

•There are ideas here to help you!

Britten (the composer)

Bullets

Living graph relay

• Line up along the wallpaper

• In real time, as the music plays, chart the tension of your line

• E.g. bullets flying faster = more tension

• Pass the pen down along the line when I signal (like a relay)

David Cameron’s interpretation

• Now in your groups, discuss how your line might change if David Cameron had written this piece

• Use this quotation to help you:

“The commemoration in 2014 should capture our national spirit in every corner of the country, from our schools and workplaces, to our town halls and local communities. It should be a commemoration that, like the diamond jubilee celebrations, says something about who are as a people.” - David Cameron, 2012

Changing interpretations and significance

• Write a word to describe the hypothetical ‘David Cameron’ piece on the back of your PostIt

• What can these changing interpretations tell us about the significance of World War One?– Remembrance?– Change/continuity?– Relevance?

• Write your thoughts somewhere on the graph