Foundations, Folk Music and Famous Melodies
This Week on MusicOfTheDay.co.uk | 31 May – 6 June
This week’s composers include some of the most important musical figures in European music history.
From Joseph Haydn helping shape the symphony, to Edward Elgar becoming one of Britain’s most recognisable composers, this week explores the foundations of many musical traditions that still influence music today.
There is also an interesting mix of national identity, folk music, opera, and even a melody many pupils will instantly recognise from an unexpected source.
This Week’s Composers
31 May – Joseph Haydn
Often called the “Father of the Symphony” and “Father of the String Quartet”, Haydn helped define the Classical style.
1 June – Mikhail Glinka
Widely regarded as the founder of Russian classical music and a major influence on later Russian composers.
2 June – Edward Elgar
One of Britain’s most celebrated composers, known for the Enigma Variations and Pomp and Circumstance Marches.
3 June – Georges Bizet
French composer best known for the opera Carmen, one of the most performed operas in the world.
4 June – Agathe Backer Grøndahl
Norwegian pianist and composer whose music combines lyricism with Romantic expressiveness.
5 June – Carl Maria von Weber
A pioneer of German Romantic opera whose work helped pave the way for composers such as Wagner.
6 June – Korobeiniki (Traditional)
A traditional Russian folk song that later became famous worldwide through its association with Tetris.
🎧 Listening Themes This Week
This week’s composers provide opportunities to explore:
- The rise of national musical styles
- Opera and musical storytelling
- Folk music influences
- Classical music’s connection to modern culture
- How composers influenced later generations
One particularly fun discussion point is how many pupils know the melody of Korobeiniki without realising it began life as a 19th-century Russian folk song.
Classroom Question
Which melody do you think is more instantly recognisable today:
Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance
or
Korobeiniki (the Tetris theme)?
June Reading Comprehension Resources
The new June composer reading comprehension pack is now available.
Each day includes:
- A composer biography
- Music-focused reading comprehension questions
- Suggested answers
- QR-linked listening opportunities
- Retrieval, vocabulary, inference and summary tasks
Designed for KS2–KS3 learners, but flexible enough for wider classroom use, cover lessons, tutor time and music enrichment activities.
June Composers – Daily Music & Reading Comprehension (Ages 8+)
One composer. One piece. Every day.