This worksheet contains questions
about the musical excerpts from The Nightingale.
Listen to the audio clips on this page and respond to
the following questions. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.
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The narrator
introduces the proud young emperor of China. As
you listen to music, what do you picture or envision
the emperor doing? Describe his clothes and his
home as you envision them.
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At this point in the story,
the emperor just told his courtiers that they must
find the nightingale by sunset. If they fail, the
punishment will be severe. What do you think is
happening during this section of the music?
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This is the song of the nightingale.
As you listen to it, write down the way the music
makes you feel. (This does not have to be done in
full sentences. Your emotions may change quickly.)
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The music changes slightly during
this section. Do you think something positive or
negative is about to happen in the story?
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This is the song of the mechanical
nightingale given as a gift to the emperor. As you
listen to the song of the new nightingale, what
do you hear in addition to the music?
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In this clip, you will hear
a concert featuring both nightingales. Can you tell
the difference between the two nightingales? How?
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As you listen to the song of
the mechanical nightingale, what do you think is
happening to the "bird?" Why?
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This music depicts the "wind
of death," how do you envision the image of
this wind? Write a short description or draw a picture.
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As you listen to the battle
between the "wind of death" and the nightingale,
how can you distinguish between the two voices?
Can you tell who is winning the battle? How?
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The nightingale takes the voice
of a human to speak to the emperor. What is her
wish? How does she feel about the emperor? What
is her state of mind? Does the emperor grant her
wish? How do you know?
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ESSAY QUESTION
The mechanical nightingale
is a gift to the emperor of China from the emperor
of Japan. It is decorated with with fine jewels
and metals. However, the Japanese emperor included
a note with the gift that said the mechanical
nightingale was "far poorer" than the
real bird. Explain what you think the emperor
of Japan meant by this statement. How can a bird
covered in jewels be poor compared to a plain
wild bird? Do you agree with the emperor of Japan?
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