Varjak Paw rap

We've been writing rap lyrics for one of the cats in Varjak Paw. Although we've all come up with individual lyrics, here's one that Mr Gregg put together starting with those by children in 4G:

You wanna tell me what this is all about?

As I walk through the alleys of my territory
I take a look at my life and realise it’s not a story
Cause I've been hunting and scratching so long,
That even my mama thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain't never crossed a pet that knew how to stand tall
Be treated like a fool, you know that's a sure fall
You better watch how you're talking and where you're walking
Or you and your felines could be vanished like them all
I climb every wall, cause I want to explore, I’ve got a
Feeling that I'll fight and I’ll fight with my best claw
I'm the kinda C the little kitties wanna be like
On my paws in the night hunting prey in the street light

Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise

Look at the situation they got me facin'
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by pacin’
I won’t join Sally Bones’ or Ginger’s team
Too much climbing over walls has got me chasing dreams
I'm a homeless kitty with my prey on my mind
Twenty claws in my paws and a gleam in my eye
I’ve lost Tam when her ninth life just timed out
Curiosity musta got her ‘fore she found out,
Death ain't nothing but a heartbeat away,
I'm living life, do or die, what can I say?
I feel abandoned, I’m getting’ nervous
The way things are going there’s gonna be no us.

Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me

Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise

The cats and the dogs, the dogs and the cats,
The rats and the mice, the mice and the rats
Everybody's running, but half of them ain't looking
What's going on in the street, but I don't know what's cookin'
They call me feral and a four legged friend.
But I can't understand it, how can will it ever end?
I guess I can't, I guess it won't
I guess they’re gone, and Varjak’s… our only hope.

Been spending most their livs, living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise

Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the one's we hurt are you and me
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the one's we hurt are you and me

The rhythm would go a little like this, only better:

Harmony

Today in our music lesson we talked about when there are two melodies at the same time.

The two melodies make something new: harmony! 

(Is there now just one new thing, or two still, or are there three things in the music?)

We worked on two songs that have several parts. First of all Building, that the choir sung to us a few weeks ago:

Then we went back to the Baka round we learnt from Su Hart:

We still know how to do it! Yay!

And to round off, what wonderful leading in our Baka call-and-response:

Su Hart - pictures

We continued our work with Su Hart during Thursday and Friday. Here's a slide show of some of the photos:


There was lots of brilliant - and quite challenging - music, lots of finding out about the Baka, and a fair bit of dancing too:

Su Hart

Su Hart is with us today. She has spent a lot of time with the Baka people in the rainforest of Cameroon.

Already we've got lots of questions:

We're learning to sing like the Baka too!

Movements, music and incantations for animating creatures

In 4G we've put our music and words for bringing creatures to life together with some movements. Here they are:

Mouse

Bird

Snake

Wolf

Music and words for animal creation

In music with Mr Davidson 4G have been creating music for Mouse, Bird, Snake, Wolf - the moment when the animals are created. We went on to begin the movements that should go with the music, and the words to be said. Here below is the music and the words we've created in our groups:

Mouse

Bird

 

Snake

Wolf

Ring of Fire

Thanks to everyone who came to our assembly today.

Here's our version of Ring of Fire (apologies to Johnny Cash):

Fire is a burning thing
And it makes a fiery ring
Bound by wild desire
I fell into a ring of fire

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down, and the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire

The taste of lava isn’t sweet
When tectonic plates like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
Ohh, but the fire went wild

Thanks to Miss Ash for the camerawork!