Unit 4 – Singing
Singing is an integral part of the primary school music curriculum. Singing aims at developing the student’s musical, vocal, and expressive skills as well as their sensitivity and emotions. It can be used as a tool to teach
topics across the music curriculum such as history of music, musical notation, the playing of the recorder, and those topics related to Maltese music, to mention but a few. It can also work across the primary curriculum where together with the class teachers it can be part of cross-curricular projects involving history, science, religion, art, drama as well as languages.
All the singing sessions can be developed and completed in the time-frame of a lesson with successful results achieved almost immediately. Apart from the songs recommended below, teachers may choose more Maltese and foreign folk songs suitable for their class.
Voice Warm-Up
Some simple voice warm-up exercises are being provided. These can be used in a class lesson or even prior to a choir singing session.
Link to Voice Warm-Up exercises audio files: click here
Activity 1 – Il-Banda t’Indri
This song was composed by Joe Tanti and performed by the Greenfields in 1975. ‘Indri’ refers to Maestro Indri Borg, a blind bandmaster who started the first brass band in Malta in 1860. This band consisted of a group of 16 musicians from the town of Żebbug (Malta). Indri’s band became popular not only in festas but also when the village had reason to celebrate such as a new priest, a lawyer, doctor or a marriage. With this music, Joe Tanti honours the memory of Indri Borg, the father of traditional brass bands in Malta.
Activity 2 – Greensleeves
This is an English song whose composer is unknown. The music was written around 1580 and it is a traditional folk song. There are many verses to this song. The verses here speak about a Lady Greensleeves, a beautiful lady who charms a gentleman. However, he is sad that she does not
return his love. In modern times, other words were written to this song, making it a popular song at Christmas time.
1864 painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Alas, my love, you do me wrong
To cast me off discourteously
And I have loved you oh so long
Delighting in your company
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but my lady greensleeves
If you intend to be this way
It does the more enrapture me
And even so I still remain
A lover in captivity
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but my lady greensleeves
Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu
God I pray to prosper thee
For I am still thy lover true
Come once again and love me
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but my lady greensleeves