Welcome to another Famous Composer music lesson. Today we have a 15-Minute Music Lesson Freebie on Giacomo Puccini. It’s an excerpt from the online course 20th Century Music Appreciation Course for High School. Find the full lesson, plus 35 others, there!
Be sure to download the accompanying free printable pack at the end of this lesson!
15-Minute Music Lesson Freebie on Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), an Italian composer, is one of the greatest to ever write opera. Puccini was born into a musical family. Although he did write other musical genres (such as the symphony Capriccio Sinfonico), he is considered to be the final great composer in the Italian operatic tradition.
Opera composers often don’t write the story, nor the poetry/words of the songs (known as the “libretto”), but they instead write the music for the singing of the story and libretto.
Famous Operas
Some of Puccini’s most famous operas are La Bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), Madame Butterfly (1904), Gianni Schicchi (1918), and Turandot (1924).
Gianni Schicchi
Listen to “O Mio Babbino Caro” from Gianni Schicchi which is a one-act opera. The glorious song is often used in films, such as the beautiful English film, A Room with a View. Gianni Schicchi is a funny story about some greedy relatives who want to get their hands on the money and estate left by their deceased relative. They find that in his will he has left it all to a monastery, so they come up with a scheme to change the will.
Turandot
“Nessun Dorma” is a beautiful aria from Turandot. An “aria” is what a song from an opera is called.
Here is “Nessun Dorma” with a “pop” twist.
La Bohème
La Bohème is Puccini’s most famous opera. The story is about a group of friends–bohemians– who live in Paris. There are romances and break-ups. At the end, the two main characters are reunited just before Mimi succumbs to consumption (tuberculosis). It is a moving story which has been beloved by every generation since its premiere in 1896. Listen to two beautiful arias from La Bohème.
Musetta’s Waltz (or “Quando me’n vo”)
Download a Free Printable Pack for the Music Lesson on Giacomo Puccini
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Emily James says
Thank you! Puccini one of my faves!
genamayo says
Me, too!
Kelly says
I love this freebies on top of the ones we have already as they add another element to our elementary level 15-minute ones and introduce additional topics like Opera since we have the Musical one too. Thank you!!!
genamayo says
You’re very welcome! I’m thinking of doing an online course on opera as well. 🙂
Sally says
Thanks for the free lesson, and the great giveaway!
Diamond Hile says
Great giveaway and thanks for another lesson!
Christie says
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Kristi says
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Amanda says
Thank you for all that you do!
tara says
Thanks for the opportunity!
Heather L says
I love your blog. Such a wonderful variety of music to share with my children.
genamayo says
Thank you so much. 🙂
G. Martin says
Wow thank you very much for the chance to win.
Traci says
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Marissa says
My children are 1/4 Italian, so this is an especially good lesson for them!
genamayo says
Neat!
Gail says
Thanks for the great music ideas
Judith Martinez says
I love this lesson.
Liz says
Thanks for the giveaway and lovely music resources, inspiring as usual – well done.
nicole says
This looks fun.
April says
Thank you for the great giveaway! We love your 15-minute music lessons so much! They are a true blessing, Thank you!
Christie says
Thank you for another great giveaway!
Kristi says
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R G says
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Alexandra P. says
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Judith Martinez says
Amazing giveaway!
Jessica Brown says
thanks for the chance to win!
Judith Martinez says
My husband loves opera, I’m not such a fan. I think he would be thrilled if I did this lesson with the kids!
Judith Martinez says
1 month until Christmas.
Judy F. says
What a blessing you are to others! Thank you!
Teresa says
Thank you, for the free music composer lesson, and the giveaway opportunity!
V. says
Thank you. We love these studies!
Judith Martinez says
I’m looking forward to getting our computer working again so that I can do a weekly music lesson with all of your fabulous materials.
Sarah P. says
Wow! Thanks for the chance to win!
Lisa Dorsett says
This is a great giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity to enter!
katie says
Thanks for the chance to win!
Judith Martinez says
Thanks for the printables.
Judith Martinez says
Thanks for the giveaway! I would love to be able to get my car fixed before Christmas.
Judith Martinez says
My curriculum budget has been pretty much zero the last few years so having great resources like this helps a lot.
Judith Martinez says
My husband adores Puccini. I will have to include him in this lesson.
Judith Martinez says
We watched a live stream of the nutcracker ballet today and then I showed them the Fantasia animation of the nutcracker suite. It was a fun way to do music appreciation.
Judith Martinez says
Thank you for the giveaway.
Jonita says
My children are getting older, but I still enjoy getting all the homeschool information. Our family has many memories of homeschooling our 3 boys all the way through the school years. Now they are all three in college, I guess I’ll need to wait until the grandchildren to reuse all the materials that we’ve gathered over the years.
Lisa Dorsett says
This is cool! Thank you for this giveaway!
Judith Martinez says
Happy Sunday everyone!
Katie says
Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Judith Martinez says
Thank you again.
A says
Great. Thank You for this!
Resa says
I love music.
Jodi Hunter says
I so hope I win!
Jodi Hunter says
Fingers Crossed!
Judith Martinez says
Wonderful giveaway!
Judith Martinez says
We’re putting up our tree tomorrow! We’ll be enjoying Christmas music while we do it.
Judith Martinez says
It is very strange for a email subscribe to be a daily entry instead of a one time entry. I can only subscribe once.
Lynn Goad says
Your blog gives me hope that I can use your resources to support my Primary music program!
Judith Martinez says
I can’t wait to see who wins.
Jodi Hunter says
Keeping My Fingers Crossed.
Judith Martinez says
I’m keeping my toes crossed!
mia dentice carey says
Thanks for the opportunity!
Loura says
Wow!!!
Rachel Thurlow says
Thank you so much for the great ideas!
Christie Miller says
Thanks for the freebie and the chance!
Julie M. says
This opera unit looks amazing! Thank you
ko says
neat giveaway 🙂
Lynette Williams says
This looks fun. It will provide a welcome change from the slog of regular school. Thanks!
Jennifer Lill says
Great info for using music at school.
Kendra says
Thanks for the chance to win!
Shannon says
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Christine Bowman says
Thanks for the chance to win
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MICHELLE HENSLEY says
Thank you for the chance to win.
Merry Christmas!
Jamie says
Great givaway!
Gail says
Thank you
Tiffany says
My sons and I love the 15 minute music freebies. We have learned so much. Giveaway
Katherine says
What an amazing blessing to your readers! Thank you so much for offering this give a way during Christmas.
Christine says
I’m excited to try this with my kids, they love music. Thanks for the giveaway!
Chanelle says
Thank you for the awesome giveaway!!
Corrie D. says
Thank you for the free music lesson and the giveaway opportunity!
Resa says
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Judith Martinez says
I’m so excited for Christmas!
Krista says
I really enjoy your lessons — when we were doing an eclipse study we did your Star Wars study and that really kept my teen’s interest.
April D says
Thank you! We absolutely LOVE the 15-minute music lessons! ANd thanks for the contest, too!
Judith Martinez says
Thanks again! I’m looking forward to the winners announcement.