As part of the MusicaLinks program at their school, third-graders wrote fairy tales with
“
soundscapes
”
to accompany them. They then performed their works using their classmates as actor/dancers and musicians. The following story is one example.
WAXMAN VERSUS THE THREE VILLIANS
Symphony Writing Project
by Jules Meyer
One shiny day in Ghoulopolis (rainstick) at a construction site (African drums) Cavemonster found a bottle. It said on it,
“add fire.”
Cavemonster (African drums/rhythm) lit a match (gong) and threw it in the bottle. It bubbled (tambourine) like a boiling pot of soup . Suddenly Fireguy (bass xylophone/leitmotif) popped out. Cavemonster (African drums) was making a very cold (triangle) science project and he made Icedude (metallaphone/leitmotif) to join Fireguy (bass xylophone).
Fireguy (bass xylophone) and Icedude (metallaphone) were wrecking Ghoulopolis (rainstick), freezing and burning the city like a wildfire. Then Waxman (glockenspiel/leitmotif) came. Fireguy (bass xylophone) and Icedude (metallaphone) froze and then melted him. Then, just to make things worse, Dragonra (cabasa/rhythm) appeared. He helped Fireguy (bass xylophone) and Icedude (metallaphone).
It looked like the end of Waxman (glockenspiel/leitmotif), until Wizard (Tibetan Bowl) and his pet Lizard of Life (rattle/rhythm) came. They threw Waxman (glockenspiel) a golden bracelet (flute). Now Waxman (glockenspiel) had a shield. Then he put Fireguy (bass xylophone) and Icedude (metallaphone) and Dragonra (cabasa) inside the rock-with-a-peace-sign-on-it (vibraslap) where they stayed forever like caged lions.
Waxman (glockenspiel) returned to the Hall of Wax (Native American drum/rhythm) having saved all the Waxpeople from the Ghouls of Ghoulopolis (rainstick). Waxman (glockenspiel) asked Dr. Candlemaker (chimes) to make him a wax sandwich (all instruments).
March 27, 2000
