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Requires Quicktime
Program Sponsor
The Chicago Sinfonietta offers a six-session, residency program entitled Audience Matters for 4th-7th grade students that bring our musicians into CPS classrooms for an introduction to classical music. This year we introduced a new element to the program. Every student involved with the program was asked to write a story or poem based on their perception of Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings, performed during this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Tribute concert. The students have used their language and writing skills to create a story out of their experience of this music. The Sinfonietta has also asked the teachers to incorporate a visual art component into their curriculum, providing students the opportunity to visually depict their experience of this evocative piece.
The Chicago Sinfonietta is very pleased to present to you with a selection of some of these creative writing pieces. We thank all of the students and their teachers for their meaningful participation and congratulate them on their success. Enjoy!
We used to have a lot of fun playing outside,
playing with the neighbors until someone cried.
We promise to be best friends until the world’s end
and now that you’re gone, there’s too many holes to mend.
A couple longs months have gone by,
but at lonely nights I still cry.
I remember at our school, you were the best dancer,
until the day we found out you had cancer.
After a few months, you were worn-down,
having no expression on your face, not even a frown.
The next day, you were called to heaven
and I was remembering the day we were seven.
That’s when we vowed to be best friends
and to each other we would tend.
I am still mad you broke the promise.
Now all I have is a stupid boy named Thomas.
Things aren’t all that fun since you’re not here
because “where are you?” is what I fear.
— Sara Beck, 7th grade, St. Barbara School
Soft… Yet so sweet.
A melody that hits you as a treat.
Cool breeze, a sense of emotion,
This song reminds me of a love potion.
A guy sees someone he truly adores.
Memories, love gives him tours.
He dances around under the moon
Praying his love will come to him soon.
He thinks of her, their soft touch
As the violinist plays his music as such.
His heart drown as she walks away,
For he knows that she is gone to stay.
Falling to his knees crying tears,
Now his heart feels all his fears.
The soft melody tells a story
A man who has no care or worry.
He lost his one true love
An angel who came from above.
She waltzed in and out of his heart,
Tears have not ended since the start.
But when the lovely tone faded away
His agony and pain is there to stay.
Soft…Yet so sweet.
A melody that hits you as a treat.
Cool tone, a sense of emotion.
This song reminds me of a love potion.
A guy loses his love and gains pain,
For every potion is the same.
— Ashley Walker, 8th grade, Stewart School
When I just heard it
My heart started to brighten
The Adagio for Strings
Made my feelings ring
The Adagio for Strings
Made my soul fly
To the end of the earth
Upon the sky
The Adagio for Strings
Smooth and gentle
Soft and lovable
The Adagio for Strings
— Phuong Nguyen, 8th grade, Stewart School
A fantastic song
moDerate
Angels is what it reminds me of
Good to listen to
Interesting
sOothing
Flutes
lOud at the end
tRumpet
Stopping on a dime
Tired
Real
vIolin
Not fast
Glad I listened to it
Slow at the beginning
— Marisa Schwerin, 7th grade, St. Barbara School
Cold and hard winter
Gently turning into spring
How pretty and bright
- Jonathan Medina, 7th grade, St. Barbara School
The King’s Death
On a black night there was no light except from the candles that shined
in the darkness. Millions of people were lined up in all black blending
into the darkness of night. They all had candles, even the children did.The
light of the candles lit the sky in yellow.
Everyone was crying and sad for the loss of their beloved king.The trumpets and bells sounded.Down the street came the parade of people.The gold crown was on a beautifully decorated wagon pulled by soldiers. It was in the front of the parade. Then came the coffin.Through the streets of the city the parade passed.
Finally they arrived at the cemetery. Black gates opened.Then a light breeze blew out the candles.The sky started to cry. People put roses on the ground. At that moment the king was buried.
— Alexis Lopez, 5th grade, Eberhart Elementary
The Vacant Land
I see a tree with no leaves
And two guys ‘hanging’ around
If you know what I mean
Nothing living, nothing breathing….
The land is practically imitating the dead
As the land is dead itself
That tune….That sad tune
Playing in the background
The Sand drifting in the wind
Like dust when blown
I can even picture a helmet
With no head in it….
It’s what I call
The Vacant Land….
— Andres Gavin, 5th grade, Eberhart Elementary
“No, don’t die my child.Don’t die,” wailed the mother.The child’s face grimaced as he tried to move his blood-stained hand.He tried to choke for words. His face stained in blood twitched as he began seeing a bright light. Harps playing, he smiled even though it was painful to do so. Bright figures come out chanting,“Come with us, come with us.” His spirit, his only soul, came out of his body.The spirit glanced back at his mother crying over the dead body not moving.Then the spirit moved on, seeing paradise for the first time.
— Anwar Jahiruddin, 6th grade, Hayt School
Two humans, a girl and a boy, out in the wild enjoying a peaceful sunset with all the animals surrounding them. Birds flying around gracefully, deer prancing around, squirrels sitting on a tree watching the beautiful view of a beautiful glorious sunset.
— Andrea Leon, 6th grade, Hayt School
Sounds of Music
The music is dramatic
setting an emotion towards those
who listen to it.
It casts sound in which only the
listeners will see the sound is
like angels flying happily to heaven.
They cast down to see a view
with a million words.
Loud embarkment showing an
interpretation to which inspiration flies.
The music, oh so peaceful as it sends
its harmonic, melodic and
heavenly sounds fly down to
the land which we call paradise.
The enlightening happiness which
sounds like sunset on a calm,
warm and balmy island.
Tis the music that sets a
view down to such a heavenly
abode which fills our hearts with
emotions unknown.
Sounds oh so close to this
music create enjoyment and
pleasure also unseen.
So as the angels fly carelessly
they open their wings, soar into
the sky, and glance at the once
known island flying
through their minds the sounds
of music.
—Ayesha Hameed, 6th grade, Hayt School
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