Basic 8 · Creative Arts and Design · Media and Techniques
Imaginative Composition, Tempo and Events, and Rhythm in Dance and Drama
In this topic you will create an imaginative composition using drawing media, compare events associated with fast and slow music, and practise the techniques and dynamics of rhythm in dance and drama.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Create an imaginative composition that expresses a personal view
- Compare activities and events associated with fast and slow music
- Use the elements and dynamics of rhythm in dance and drama
What you already know
- Drawing from observation, memory and imagination
- Tempo terms
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Visual Arts
- Sub-strand
- Media and Techniques
- Indicator
- B8.2.1.1.1 – Explore media and techniques in drawing from direct observation/ memory and imagination print making and weaving to express own views in visual artworks to encourage recording and research skills
Introduction
A composition is a complete picture with several parts arranged together. An imaginative composition expresses your own ideas, dreams or views about life.
1. What Is a Composition?
Composition: The arrangement of elements and objects within an artwork to create a complete picture.
A composition has a subject (what it is about), a foreground (nearest to the viewer), a middle ground and a background. It should have a centre of interest that attracts the eye, supported by other parts.
2. Planning an Imaginative Composition
- Choose a theme, such as "Ghana in 2050" or "My dream school".
- Brainstorm ideas and make small thumbnail sketches.
- Decide on the centre of interest and its position.
- Arrange foreground, middle ground and background.
- Choose a medium: charcoal, pastels or poster colour.
- Draw lightly, then add tone and colour.
3. Using Principles in Composition
Use balance so the picture does not look lopsided, emphasis to make the centre of interest stand out, rhythm through repeated shapes, and unity through a consistent colour scheme. Overlapping objects and making distant objects smaller and paler create depth.
4. Expressing a View
An imaginative composition can carry a message. A picture of a future Ghana with clean rivers and solar-powered homes expresses hope for the environment. A picture of children walking long distances to school expresses concern about access to education. Write a short note explaining your message in your sketchbook.
New words
- composition
- The arrangement of parts in an artwork.
- centre of interest
- The part that attracts the eye most.
- foreground
- The part of a picture nearest to the viewer.
- thumbnail sketch
- A small, quick planning sketch.
Summary
- A composition arranges objects into a complete picture with foreground, middle ground and background.
- Plan with themes and thumbnail sketches, then use principles of design.
- Imaginative compositions can express personal views and messages.
Class activity: Imaginative Composition
- Choose a theme and make three thumbnail sketches.
- Develop the best one into a full composition with tone or colour.
- Write a short statement of your message.
You need: Local calabash still-life object, Drawing paper, Charcoal pencils
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. The part of a picture nearest to the viewer is the…
- A. foreground
- B. background
- C. middle ground
- D. frame
Show answer
Answer: foregroundFront.2. Making distant objects smaller and paler creates…
- A. depth
- B. balance
- C. rhythm
- D. contrast only
Show answer
Answer: depthPerspective.3. A composition should have a centre of interest.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueFocal point.4. A small, quick planning sketch is a ______ sketch.
Show answer
Answer: thumbnailPlanning.5. List four steps in planning an imaginative composition.
Show answer
Answer: Choose a theme, make thumbnails, decide the centre of interest, arrange grounds (or choose medium, draw and colour).Any four.6. How can an imaginative composition express a view about society?
Show answer
Answer: By showing a scene that represents hopes or concerns, such as a clean future Ghana or children lacking schools.Message.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Performing Arts (Music)
- Sub-strand
- Media and Techniques
- Indicator
- B8.2.1.2.5 – Tell how fast or slow music is heard and compare and contrast activities and events that are associated with fast or slow music
Introduction
Why is slow music played at funerals and fast music at parties? Tempo matches the mood of an occasion.
1. Tempo and Mood
| Tempo | Mood it creates |
|---|---|
| slow (largo, adagio) | calm, sad, serious, peaceful |
| moderate (andante, moderato) | relaxed, steady, thoughtful |
| fast (allegro, presto) | happy, exciting, energetic |
2. Events and Their Tempos
| Event | Usual tempo | Example |
|---|---|---|
| funeral wake and burial | slow | dirges, slow Adowa, hymns |
| lullaby to put a baby to sleep | slow | cradle songs |
| church worship and prayer | slow to moderate | hymns |
| wedding and outdooring celebrations | moderate to fast | highlife, choruses |
| festivals and durbars | fast | Kpanlogo, Fontomfrom |
| sports and marches | fast and steady | brass band marches |
| parties and dances | fast | Afrobeats, hiplife |
3. Comparing and Contrasting
Fast and slow music both use rhythm, melody and instruments, but fast music has short, quick notes and energetic beats, while slow music has long, held notes and gentle beats. Some events use both: at a Ghanaian funeral, slow dirges may be followed later by fast highlife as the family celebrates the life of the deceased.
4. Changing Tempo for Effect
Composers change tempo within a piece to create effect. A song may begin slowly, speed up (accelerando) to build excitement and slow down (ritardando) at the end. Listening for these changes helps you appreciate how music tells a story.
5. Tempo in Ghanaian Traditional Music
In traditional music, the master drummer controls the tempo. At a funeral, Adowa drumming may begin slowly and become livelier as the dancers grow in energy. At festivals, the tempo of Fontomfrom drums rises during exciting moments, such as the arrival of the chief. Listening to how tempo changes during a performance helps you understand the story of the event.
New words
- mood
- The feeling created by music.
- dirge
- A slow, mournful song for the dead.
- lullaby
- A gentle song to put a child to sleep.
- march
- Music with a steady beat for walking in step.
Summary
- Slow tempos create calm or sad moods; fast tempos create excitement and joy.
- Events such as funerals use slow music, while festivals and parties use fast music.
- Composers change tempo within pieces to create effects.
Class activity: Tempo and Events Performance
- Choose one slow and one fast event.
- Perform a short rhythm suitable for each on the atumpan and clappers.
- Explain why your tempo suits each event.
You need: Atumpan drum, Wooden clappers, Printed music notation cards
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which tempo usually suits a lullaby?
- A. slow
- B. very fast
- C. presto
- D. allegro
Show answer
Answer: slowCalm.2. A slow, mournful song for the dead is a…
- A. dirge
- B. march
- C. jingle
- D. chorus
Show answer
Answer: dirgeFuneral song.3. Fast music often creates an exciting mood.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueEnergy.4. Music with a steady beat for walking in step is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: marchProcession music.5. Compare fast and slow music in two ways.
Show answer
Answer: Fast music has quick notes and an energetic mood; slow music has long notes and a calm or sad mood.Two differences.6. Explain why a Ghanaian funeral may include both slow and fast music.
Show answer
Answer: Slow music expresses mourning, while fast music later celebrates the life of the deceased.Two moods.
Lesson 3
- Strand
- Performing Arts (Dance/Drama)
- Sub-strand
- Media and Techniques
- Indicator
- B8.2.1.3.9 – Experiment and practice by using the techniques and dynamics of rhythm in dance and drama
Introduction
Dance and drama come alive through rhythm and energy. A warrior's sharp stamps and a mourner's slow sway express different feelings through movement.
1. Elements of Dance
| Element | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| action (body) | what the body does | jumping, turning, bending, gestures |
| space | where the body moves | levels (high, low), directions, pathways |
| time | when and how fast | tempo, rhythm, pauses |
| energy (dynamics) | how the movement is done | strong or light, sharp or smooth |
| relationship | how dancers relate | with partners, groups, props |
2. Dynamics of Movement
Dynamics describe the quality of movement. A movement can be sudden or sustained, strong or gentle, direct or flexible. In Atsiagbekor, a warrior dance of the Ewe, dancers use strong, sharp movements. In Adowa, women use smooth, graceful movements. Changing dynamics keeps a performance interesting.
3. Rhythm in Drama
Drama also has rhythm. The pace of speech, pauses before important lines, the timing of entrances and the build-up of tension all create rhythm. Fast exchanges of dialogue show excitement or anger, while slow speech shows thoughtfulness or sadness.
4. Practising with the Drum
- Listen to the master drummer's rhythm on the atumpan.
- Walk in time with the beat, then march, then jump.
- Change levels: move high, then low, then middle.
- Change dynamics: strong and sharp, then light and smooth.
- Freeze when the drum stops, then continue when it restarts.
5. Creating a Short Movement Piece
Using the elements of dance, create a short movement piece of about one minute. Start with a strong opening pose, move through different levels and pathways, change the dynamics at least twice, and end with a clear final pose. Practise with the drum so that your movements match the rhythm. This piece can later become part of a dance-drama.
New words
- dynamics
- The quality or energy of movement.
- pathway
- The route a dancer follows across the floor.
- level
- How high or low a dancer moves.
- pace
- The speed of action or speech in drama.
Summary
- The elements of dance are action, space, time, energy and relationship.
- Dynamics describe the quality of movement, such as strong or gentle.
- Drama also has rhythm through pace, pauses and timing.
Class activity: Rhythm Exploration
- Move to the atumpan rhythm, changing levels and dynamics as the drum changes.
- Create a short sequence that shows sudden and sustained movements.
- Perform for another group to identify the dynamics used.
You need: Atumpan drum, Calabash rattle, Printed photographs of Ghanaian dance poses
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. How high or low a dancer moves is their…
- A. level
- B. pathway
- C. tempo
- D. costume
Show answer
Answer: levelSpace element.2. Strong, sharp movements are typical of…
- A. warrior dances
- B. lullabies
- C. gentle Adowa
- D. silent mime
Show answer
Answer: warrior dancesDynamics.3. Drama has rhythm through pace and pauses.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueTiming.4. The quality or energy of movement is its ______.
Show answer
Answer: dynamicsEnergy.5. Name the five elements of dance.
Show answer
Answer: Action, space, time, energy, relationship.All five.6. Explain how dynamics can change the meaning of a movement.
Show answer
Answer: A raised arm done sharply may show victory or anger, while the same arm raised slowly may show prayer or sorrow.Quality and meaning.
Homework
- Watch a dance or drama performance and describe its tempo, levels and dynamics.