Verdi: The Story of the Little Boy Who Loved the Hand Organ
Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian composer of operas during the Romantic period.
Free eBook
Suggestions
- Map the following (you’ll find mapping resources below):
- Italy
- Roncole, Italy (where Verdi was born)
- Milan, Italy (where Verdi was sent to study)
- View a modern photograph of the house in which Verdi was born.
- View a photo of an organ grinder with a barrel organ or hand organ.
- View a photo of Verdi’s spinet.
- Read more about Stephen Cavaletti’s repair of Verdi’s spinet.
- Listen to the Major triad on C, the chord that young Verdi “discovered one day.”
- Verdi would have been 10 years old in 1823.
- View a portrait of Antonio Barezzi, the merchant who later became Verdi’s father-in-law.
- Learn what an opera is.
- View a list of Verdi’s operas.
- Read the plot summaries of several of Verdi’s most famous operas (these will need previewed):
- Listen to Un Ballo en Maschera or The Masked Ball listed in the Selected Works below.
- Listen to Aida listed in the Selected Works below.
- View an old illustration and painting of Villa Verdi, where Verdi farmed.
- Review Mozart.
- View an photo of Casa di Riposo per Musicisti founded by Verdi.
- Learn more about Casa di Riposos per Musicisti.
- View the bust of Verdi by sculptor Vincenzo Germito.
- Listen to “Requiem” by Verdi.
- View a video of Toscanini conducting Verdi’s “Hymn of Nations.”
- Add Verdi to your composer timeline.
- You can write or narrate your story on Verdi notebooking pages below.
- Use the “Some Questions” section as oral or written narration prompts.
- Learn more about Verdi from the Book of Knowledge:
In the 1800’s operas were written by the dozen in every country…. Tragedy is the general rule in operas. Fortunino Giuseppe Francesco Verdi (1813–1901) wrote many excellent ones including the much-loved Aida. Late in his life he tried his hand at comedies and produced a delightful one, Falstaff.
“Three Great Centuries in Music” from The Book of Knowledge
Further Investigation
Giuseppe Verdi
Biography at ClassicsForKids.com.
Giuseppe Verdi
Biography for kids from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Giuseppe Verdi
Simple biography at KidsMusicCorner.co.uk.
Selected Works
Verdi: Greatest Hits
Our favorite listening series.
Note: The following operas will need previewed.
Activities
Giuseppe Verdi
Biography, selected works, and activity sheet at ClassicsForKids.com.
Timeline
Use this interactive at ReadWriteThink.org to create a composer’s timeline.
Books
“Giuseppe Verdi”
Chapter from The World’s Greatest Men of Music by Harriette Brower. Subtitled Story-Lives of Master Musicians, this public domain title tracks nicely with our free music studies.
“Verdi”
Chapter from Great Musical Composers: German, French, and Italian by George T. Ferris.
Child’s Own Book of Great Musicians: The Complete Collection from Bach to Wagner
Complete collection on Kindle (can be read on any device).
The Gift of Music: Great Composers and Their Influence by Jane Stuart Smith & Betty Carlson
Our favorite overall music appreciation reference book. Over 300 pages long covering 43 composers along with Christmas carols. Not only covers the influence of the composer but also how his faith influenced his works. Recommended reading and listening guides at the end of each section. Highly recommended!
Unit Studies & Lesson Plans
Your Guide to Aida
Listening guide from the Edmonton Opera.
Giuseppe Verdi: Overture to Nabucco
Listening activities from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Printables & Notebooking Pages
World Map
At EduPlace.com for locating Italy.
Italy Map
PAT map for locating Roncole and Milan.
Free 18-Page Composer Notebooking Set {Time Limited}
This free set of generic pages from HomeschoolNotebooking.com goes perfectly with our studies.
Verdi: The Story of the Little Boy Who Loved the Hand Organ Notebooking Pages
Simple pages for copywork, narrations, or wrapping up.
Enjoy the entire series:
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