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MUSIC

 

Set the poetry to music. As many musicians have done for their music, you will use poetry as your lyrics for a song. You will need to create a melody for the verses of this poem and then perform it for your class. Traditional and/or creative musical instruments can be used.

For example if you play the keyboard and/or the guitar, you may combine a unique melody or a widely known melody.

 

Or you may use non-tradtional instruments such as maracas, African drums, pots and pans, or an aluminum garbage can to create a unique rhythm that will coordinate with the poem.

 

Some verses are more powerful than others. You may want to make those "louder" while other verses are more relaxed where you might want to play a soothing melody to accompany the mood.

For inspiration, check out the following sites:

Remember the Ladies

This site connects you to a song called "Remember the Ladies" which was written about Abigail Adams' perspective during the Revolutionary Era. Although the song reflects on an earlier time period than that of Leah Blackman, note the language style as well as the melody.

http://www.looksmart.com/r?page=/search/frames/index.html&isp=US&name=&bcolor=ffcc00&key=history+%2b+music&url=http%3a//www.ushistory.com/&pskip=&nskip=10&se=1000&index=3

Civil War Music Site: Fife Tunes

This site connects you to songsheets from the civil war era. Compiled by Antonio Lupher, this site can be used by those who can read music and would like to use the authentic music as background for the words to Blackman's poem.

http://www.looksmart.com/r?page=/search/frames/index.html&isp=US&name=&bcolor=ffcc00&key=civil+war+music&url=http%3a//www.civilwarmusic.net/&pskip=&nskip=10&se=1000&index=2