Haydn: Quartet,
The Joke
Goals
- Experience a piece of classical music
- Deepen the experience through reflection, poetry, and art-making
- Explore the theme of surprise and humor
Scroll down for a video and corresponding activities. You can replay the link for reference as you experience the activities below.
Performance Video
In this video the Orion String Quartet plays music written by Joseph Haydn. This song is nicknamed “The Joke” because of the surprise ending. The Op. 33 set of quartets was Haydn’s first written for a new, lucrative publishing contract, and with them he kicked off two decades of increasing international recognition. This piece was performed in Alice Tully Hall in October 2019.
Activity Video
This clip will take you through the activities with a facilitator. You can choose to watch the video and do the activities along with it. Or, you can read the activities and participate by scrolling down.
Warm Up
Photo Credit: Kevin Yatarola
Listen to the music.
Take a deep breath in for two counts and out for two counts. Take a deep breath in for four counts and out for four counts.
Take a deep breath in and let it out on a long sigh. Take a deep breath in and let it out on a ‘ha, ha, ha’ as though you are laughing. Repeat this and this time, bounce your shoulders up and down as you ‘ha, ha, ha’.
Continue to breathe and stretch as you listen to the music. Move to the music.
Reflection / Discussion
What do you notice about the musicians?
What are they wearing? What might this tell us about them or the piece?
What do you notice about their facial expressions, or how they move their body?
How are the musicians playing in unison or separate for one another?
What do you notice about the space they are in?
2. Listen to the music.
How would you describe the music?
How does the music make you feel?
What moments, if any, made you laugh?
What story do you think this music is telling?
Make a Limerick
Art-Making
Supplies: Paper and Writing Utensil
This piece is broken into four different sections. In the clip you can see the sections marked by dots along the timebar. The sections are called:
Section One - Allegro moderato, cantabile
Section Two - Scherzo: allegro
Section Three - Largo sostenuto
Section Four - Finale: presto
Divide your paper into four sections.
Example: I did this by drawing one vertical line down the center of my page and one horizontal line down the center of my page. You can divide your paper into four sections in any way that you like.
2. Re-read your limerick
3. Draw or write your responses in each section inspired by your limerick
Example: My four words from my limerick were: Andrew, yellow, ha ha, dance. I wrote these in each section and then drew and wrote different things in each section that reminded me of each word.
Explore More
Extension Questions:
What makes you laugh?
What is your favorite joke, and why?
There is a common saying “laughter is the best medicine”. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Additional Links:
To learn more about Haydn, click here.
To learn more about the Orion String Quartet, click here.
To watch more videos from Lincoln Center at Home clips, click here.
Share:
Tell us what you think! Email us at access@lincolncenter.org to share your thoughts on the activities and website. Post photos of your art projects using the hashtag #LincolnCenterAtHome.