Frodo's BAG

by M.C. Handel

A tune that teaches the notes B, A, and G is ideal for your beginning recorder students at the start of the school year, though it can certainly be used any time that works for you. Especially when a tune is as much fun as "Frodo's BAG," your students may want to play it even after they've mastered B, A, and G and are ready to move on to more challenging fingerings.

The style of the piece is labeled as "Middle Earth Rock" which implies a sort of mystical and imaginative faraway place, possibly long ago. Students who are familiar with a certain popular movie and book will also recognize the not-so-common name "Frodo" (a hero who also happens to be a young boy - definitely a plus for your own fellas).

The recording is essential to the performance of this piece and is well worth listening to. The recorders get to play the theme which is handed off to them by the horns and then in tandem with them at the very end. The acoustic guitar fills are particular impressive and add to that air of otherworldliness with a sort of Spanish flavor thrown in for fun. Ethereal synths and rock drums just make it plain cool.

Text is taken from Music K-8 magazine.