University Museum

People interpret songs differently in different times and different places.

Have students read the narrative about Ezekiel and listen to Track One. There are two versions of the song on track one. How are they different? Why do you think the second version is called a classical version?
Track Two has a modern studio recording of the same song. How are these recordings different? Are they done for different purposes?
The same comparison can be made between the two versions of the Wreck at Maud. Listen to these two recordings and discuss the differences in the field recording and the studio recording.

This tune was written in 1991 and has found its way into everything from traditional fiddle music to the movies! Read the narrative to discover its many incarnations, and listen to the recording. Ask students if they know of other tunes that have been used in different ways. Perhaps you can identify familiar tunes that have found their way into advertisements today.

People sing about emotions, and lost love has been a theme throughout history. Listen to the 1950's recording made by Professor McIntosh.
The third version of this song is an instrumental that was recorded more than 50 years later in 1999. It is played on an American folk instrument, the mountain dulcimer. Does the instrumental version give you the same feeling as the one with words? Discuss the unique sound of the dulcimer. Do you think this is a good instrument to use to play this song? How is the job of the instruments different when no words are sung?
Try singing along with the instrumental version!
What other emotions do people sing about?

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