CMP Teaching Plan
NAME
Jayden Gustafson
A PREHISTORIC SUITE
By Paul Jennings
Jenson Publications – Grade 1
Broad Description
Programmatic work based on some of the most well-known prehistoric dinosaurs (ex. Stegosaurus, Brontosaurus, Pterodactyls,
Tyrannosaurus, and Triceratops)
Atypical of traditional grade 1 music because it exposes younger players to non-triadic harmonies, simple clusters, modal
melodies, solo passages, non-traditional percussion instruments, and a short aleatoric section throughout the movements of the
suite.
Great for working on dynamic contrast to depict different scenes; from brontosaurus’ feet shaking the ground to a battle
between a tyrannosaurus and triceratops.
Excellent for getting students outside of their comfort zone by improvising in the final movement of the suite. It is also an
amazing opportunity to have students hear different sounds that are not as “pretty” as they are used to since this piece explores
open fourths and fifths, aleatoric sections, and dissonant tone clusters.
Composer Biography
Paul Jennings (b. 1948) is a prolific American composer, arranger, author, music educator, and musician. He
studied theory and composition under Paul Whear, an American composer, conductor, music educator, and
double bassist. He joined Jenson, a progressive concert and jazz band publisher in 1979 and
composed/arranged over hundreds of works for different ensembles and his work can be seen almost
everywhere. From works for orchestra, choir, jazz ensemble, and concert band—he’s written it all. Paul is
especially good at writing for levels 1 through 4, which can most definitely be confirmed when specifically
looking at A Prehistoric Suite.
Paul and his wife Teresa have also collaborated on many music educator resources and created a website
titled “Music K-8” (otherwise known as Plank Road Publications) where they post their new, creative, and
innovative music for the K-8 classroom. Some of their resources include Ukulele and Recorder Karate Dojo, music education
advocacy opportunities, idea banks, boom whacker resources, videos, and much more. Jennings is not only a composer but a music
educator that provides resources for the individuals he is writing for—and that is phenomenal to see.
Currently, Paul Jennings spends much of his time focusing on musical resources geared towards his Music K-8 company as well as
composing and arranging for grade 1 through 4 music. Currently, Paul Jennings spends much of his time focusing on musical
resources geared towards his Music K-8 company as well as composing and arranging for grade 1 through 4 music.
Background Information
The piece was written in 1987. Is a very programmatic work that depicts some of the most well-known prehistoric animals: dinosaurs!
Exposes students to musical concepts not typically seen within grade 1 music such as non-triadic harmonies, simple dissonant clusters,
modal melodies, solo passages, non-traditional percussion instruments, and a brief aleatoric section. Each movement of the suite also
focuses on different musical concepts that allow students to grow musically while having fun with the programmatic theme and
illustrations.
Movement 1: Stegosaurus (The Gladiator) is a modal processional march feel with most of the harmonies built around open
fourths and fifths.
Movement 2: Brontosaurus (Gentle Giant) depicts the giant dinosaur walking around and shaking the ground. This
movement uses the trombone to glissandi and has many crescendo and decrescendo notes that mimic the dinosaur’s feet
shaking the ground when they hit the earth.
Movement 3: Pterodactyls (Graceful Giants of the Sky) has simple individual parts in a ¾ key signature; however, it allows
musicians to be more independent than typical grade 1 pieces because it contains two short solos for trumpet.
Movement 4: The Battle (Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops) is the grand finale of the work and shows audiences that with the
first two measures which are aleatoric. Musicians are then presented with the task of playing random notes for 16-20 seconds,
creating an opportunity for improvisation. The movement starts low and soft and then becomes higher, faster, and louder. This
movement also creates tone clusters that are very dissonant, which is much unlike typical grade 1 pieces.
Overall, A Prehistoric Suite provides many learning opportunities that beginning musicians could really benefit from being introduced
early on in their musical careers. It goes beyond the realm of simple notes and hits harder musical concepts while presenting it in a fun
way through its programmatic nature.
Elements of Music – Mvmt. 2: Brontosaurus (Gentle Giant)
Measure Meter and Form Melody Rhythm Harmony Timbre Texture Expression
Tempo
4/4, Quarter Intro, L.B./W.W. Not present, Whole, half, L.B./W.W. Low brass – Pretty bare – Hairpin
1-4 = 92-96 bpm glissando motif is L.B./W.W. and quarter have a g warm and the only dynamics from
2
have a notes. minor dark. movement mp to f, and
glissando to Staccato glissando to Crescendos comes from back to mp in
staccato note quarter notes Bb staccato and L.B./W.W. the span of two
motif as the represent the quarter note decrescendos with the measures. Sets
intro. dinosaur’s (m3), contribute to glissando the scene of the
foot suddenly representing the illusion of motif, and piece
hitting the the giant the beast’s percussion representing
ground. dinosaur’s feet stomping one playing the
Unison accent feet hitting the on the ground. quarter notes. brontosaurus’
across earth. The trombone Percussion giant feet
ensemble glissando adds some stomping on
introduced gives a feeling makes the lick texture by the ground.
of the earth a bit jarring coming in on Glissando in
shaking with and very beats three the TB along
each giant prominent. and four, with the
step. however, it is staccato in
still pretty lower voices
bare boned provides a
until measure jarring and
four. impactful
sound further
contributing to
the story.
4/4, Quarter A Flowing Whole, dotted L.B./W.W. Very Many Hairpin
5-12 = 92-96 bpm melody is half, half, and play notes on mysterious, different dynamics from
introduced in quarter notes. the tonic (g) heavy, and textures mp to f, and
the AS, TS, Flowing half and then dark. Sounds happening at back to mp in
TR, and FH. and quarter transition into as if this moment the span of two
Ends in a two notes in the the gliss motif something is in the piece measures.
tied measure upper voices from g to Bb being held from quarter Glissando in
crescendo and represent the and back back until the notes to whole the TB along
decrescendo world around down again glissando notes. Layers with the
whole note the dinosaur; with the motif abruptly over top of staccato in
phrase to calm and crescendos. enters, one another lower voices
signal the next constant. They are causing a provide the provides a
section. Staccato hiding under sense of illusion of the jarring and
quarter notes the melody alarm. Upper dinosaur impactful
then represent line until the voices have a walking sound further
3
the dinosaur’s gliss motif. flowing line forward with contributing to
feet stomping Perc 1 but sounds each crashing the story.
on the ground switches weary and stomp. Upper Sustain through
and between dark. voices are whole notes to
interrupting hitting on absent get full effect.
the calm beats 124 and however, so When the
world around 123. Emphasis the texture is glissando motif
it. on (g). very dense. interjects
during these
moments of
peace, it
illustrates just
how large this
animal is—so
emphasize it.
4/4, Quarter B Melody is still Whole and L.B./W.W. Soft and Half notes False sense of
13-20 = 92-96 bpm in the AS, TS, half notes and Perc 2 warm. Turns layer over the security in the
TP, and FH; from the have the dark and whole notes beginning.
however, the entire underlying brassy when for four SUSTAIN
melody has ensemble until harmony on gliss motif measures through first
been altered L.B./W.W. tied whole returns. providing a four measures.
slightly and and Perc come notes constant Crescendos and
augmented. in with the providing an feeling. decrescendos
Downbeat contrasting almost drone- Layers get should be
consistently eight notes like sound to more complex emphasized out
starts on the underneath give stability in measure 17 of this melodic
tonic (g the whole to the melody when W.W. passage for
minor) notes. Same until the gliss play their contrast.
repeating motif whole notes, Unison accent
motifs of interjection in L.B./W.W. gives the
staccato m.17. play the gliss illusion of the
quarter notes motif, and peace being
and accented Perc 1 and 2 disrupted by
whole notes play their these footsteps.
from the quarter and
entire half notes. (4
ensemble different
from the layers)
4
beginning of
the piece.
Flowing Whole, dotted L.B./W.W. Very Many Hairpin
melody is in half, half, and play notes on mysterious, different dynamics from
the AS, TS, quarter notes. the tonic (g) heavy, and textures mp to f, and
TR, and FH. Flowing half and then dark. Sounds happening at back to mp in
Ends in a two and quarter transition into as if this moment the span of two
tied measure notes in the the gliss motif something is in the piece measures.
crescendo and upper voices from g to Bb being held from quarter Glissando in
decrescendo represent the and back back until the notes to whole the TB along
whole note world around down again glissando notes. Layers with the
phrase to the dinosaur; with the motif abruptly over top of staccato in
signal the next calm and crescendos. enters, one another lower voices
section. constant. They are causing a provide the provides a
Staccato hiding under sense of illusion of the jarring and
quarter notes the melody alarm. Upper dinosaur impactful
4/4, Quarter then represent line until the voices have a walking sound further
A
21-28 = 92-96 bpm the dinosaur’s gliss motif. flowing line forward with contributing to
feet stomping Perc 1 but sounds each crashing the story.
on the ground. switches weary and stomp. Upper Sustain through
between dark. voices are whole notes to
hitting on absent get full effect.
beats 124 and however, so When the
123. Emphasis the texture is glissando motif
on (g). very dense. interjects
during these
moments of
peace, it
illustrates just
how large this
animal is—so
emphasize it.
4/4, Quarter B Melody is still Whole and L.B./W.W. Soft and Half notes False sense of
29-35 = 92-96 bpm in the AS, TS, half notes and Perc 2 warm. Turns layer over the security in the
TP, and FH; from the have the dark and whole notes beginning.
however, the entire underlying brassy when for four SUSTAIN
melody has ensemble until harmony on gliss motif measures through first
been altered L.B./W.W. tied whole returns. providing a four measures.
5
slightly and and Perc come notes constant Crescendos and
augmented. in with the providing an feeling. decrescendos
Downbeat contrasting almost drone- Layers get should be
consistently eight notes like sound to more complex emphasized out
starts on the underneath give stability in measure 17 of this melodic
tonic (g the whole to the melody when W.W. passage for
minor) notes. Same until the gliss play their contrast.
repeating motif whole notes, Unison accent
motifs of interjection in L.B./W.W. gives the
staccato m.33. play the gliss illusion of the
quarter notes motif, and peace being
representing Perc 1 and 2 disrupted by
footsteps. play their these footsteps.
quarter and
half notes. (4
different
layers)
Unison Accented Unison Bright, brassy, Singular This last
accented whole notes, accented and harsh. texture of all accented,
whole note and accented whole note Signaling the of the abrupt, and
across the quarter notes. across the end in a ensemble bright moment
entire Signifies the entire jarring way playing the signals the end
ensemble ending of the ensemble. going from V- same of the mvmt—
Closing, the final
36-37 4/4, Quarter going from V- piece with the i. progression of the last
brontosaurus step
= 92-96 bpm i. final shake of V-i. brontosaurus
shaking the ground
the earth from step—
the dinosaur’s REALLY
step. EMPHASIZE
THE ACCENT
AND
CRESCENDO!
The Heart Statement
The heart of A Prehistoric Suite is the multi-layered textures, everchanging dynamics, and long, beautiful phrases that create the
feelings of serenity, unsettledness, panic, and chaos.
6
Introducing the Piece
Affective Outcome:
Strategies
Assessment
Skill Outcome:
7
Strategies
Assessment
Knowledge Outcome:
Strategies
Assessment
Recommended Recordings
8
References
Works for Winds
Glossary of Terms
Sang through, studied, and marked parts (check off as completed)
Piccolo Cornets/Trumpets 1st Violins
Flutes Horns 2nd Violins
9
Oboes Trombones Violas
English Horn Euphoniums Celli
Bassoons Tubas String Bass
Eb Clarinet Harp
Clarinets Timpani
Alto Clarinets Snare Drum Sopranos
Bass Clarinets Mallet Percussion Altos
Contra Bass/Alto Clarinet Remaining Percussion Tenors
Saxophones Piano Basses
10
