Russian Christmas Music

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/russian-christmas-music

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the composer?Alfred Reed
2. What is the year of composition?1944
3. Why did Alfred Reed write it so quickly?He had to create a new Russian-themed piece in just sixteen days because the original Russian work was disqualified for the 1944 Denver concert.
4. When and where was it first performed?It premiered on December 12, 1944, in Denver, Colorado, and was broadcast on NBC across the U.S.

Symphonic Band Literature: Musical compositions specifically written for ensembles of wind and percussion instruments.
Diplomatic Commission: A musical work created for a specific purpose related to international relations or cultural exchange.
Liturgical Music: Music intended for use in religious services or ceremonies.
Counterpoint: The relationship between two or more independent melodic lines played or sung simultaneously.