'To the Contrary'
Background
According to the 4th Edition (2003) of ‘The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language’, Houghton Mifflin Company, the adjective ‘contrary’ has several meanings.
These include
• Opposed, as in character or purpose: contrary opinions; acts that are contrary to our code of ethics.
• Opposite in direction or position: Our boat took a course contrary to theirs. See Synonyms at opposite.
• Adverse; unfavourable: a contrary wind.
• also (kn-trâr) Given to recalcitrant behaviour; wilful or perverse.
Of particular interest here is its rather specific meaning in musical contexts.
• Music: Moving in the opposite direction at a fixed interval: playing scales in contrary motionConsider
Although this piece is based on the idea that the two angklung parts move away from each other – in ‘contrary motion’, this is not the rule across the music. Sometimes the two parts move together and sometimes they cross each other.
Look at the following piece of music:
• Music in the upper stave begins on low C and climbs through the other letter names to high C (C1)Have the class play the upper stave, ascending the musical scale. Then play the lower stave. Now divide the class into two groups, ensuring that both groups have a full set of angklung to play the scale from C to C1. Now share the fun of playing both staves together.
• Music in the lower stave begins on High C (C1) and descends through the other letter names to low C.
Where did they cross over?
Now
apply what you have learned to learning the piece of music. Play it with
angklung first, if you wish, before learning words of the song