The Tempest. 4: Toledo steel

School Radio > Music > KS2: The Tempest

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Tutorial: 'Toledo steel'

Key timings in the tutorial are:

00 00: Listening to the opening section of the song to become familiar with the style and the mood.
01 22: Learning the chorus, beginning: 'Toledo, Toledo…' Noting that the chorus has two parts: an upper part and a lower one. Beginning with the upper.
03 10: Learning the harmony section of the chorus in two groups, which also begins: 'Toledo, Toledo…' but has a falling pattern. At 04 12 putting the two parts of the chorus together. Noting that the repeat of 'Toledo, Toledo…' is an octave lower.
07 12: Learning the rap, beginning: 'Let me tell you how…' Listening a line at a time and then repeating. At 07 55 dividing into two groups to rap alternate lines. At 10 13 singing the rap right through in two groups.
11 00: Standing up to sing 'Toledo steel' all the way through.

The story

Synopsis:

While Ariel leads Ferdinand up to the cave Prospero visits the courtiers - still wearing his invisibility cloak. The courtiers are tired and hungry. Prospero casts a sleeping spell on them but allows Sebastian and Antonio to remain awake.

Almost immediately Antonio is up to his tricks, trying to persuade Sebastian to make himself king by killing Alonso while he sleeps. Sebastian suggests that such and act would actually make Ferdinand king…but Alonso reminds him that Ferdinand is missing, presumed drowned. Antonio undoes a case and shows Sebastian a knife…one made from Toledo steel.

See Resources below for a quiz about the story episode.

Song: 'Toledo steel'

Learn the song 'Toledo steel' - about Antonio's plot to kill Alonso.

Once you have learnt the song singing with vocal version you can polish your performance singing with just the backing track.

Click here for the lyric sheet.

Click here for the music sheet.

Please note: The Tempest contains a plot to kill the King of Naples, which is a central part of the story.The song Toledo Steel includes references to using a knife and therefore teacher review is recommend prior to use of the song in class.

Listening music: an extract from the 2nd movement of 'Concerto de Aranjuez' by Joaquin Rodrigo

Listen to more of the 2nd movement of Rodrigo’s Concerto de Aranjuez.

• Compare it to some flamenco guitar music or other music of Spain

Resources

More from this series

School Radio > Music > KS2: The Tempest

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8 - Clips - Audio downloads