The truth about the Tudors
Teaching and performance notes
1. Listen to and discuss ‘The truth about the Tudors’
Listen to ‘The truth about the Tudors’, then ask the children to describe the
general feel of the song (eg fast, slow, smooth, bouncy, soft, spiky). Ask what gives
the song its mood. (The words, the tempo, the instruments, the melody and rhythm and
how they all combine.) Listen again and ask the children to clap or beat along
with the main ‘1, 2 ,1, 2’ rhythm. (Marching or skipping works well, if space allows!)
2. Read and discuss the lyrics
Read the lyrics together. Discuss which aspects of Tudor history are described
in each verse. (You could follow this with a fun quiz, with Tudor Roses awarded for each
historical fact recalled.)
3. Learn the chorus
All together, say the words slowly and in rhythm several times. Encourage the
children to enjoy the rhythm of the words and articulate clearly. Gradually
build up speed. Listen to the vocal melody of the chorus (track 2). Practise
singing along with the track.
4. Learn the verses
Learn each verse thoroughly before moving on to the next. Listen to the verse
you are about to learn (tracks 4 to 6). Read the words aloud together - slowly,
clearly and in rhythm, as with the chorus. Emphasise the importance of clear
articulation, especially when imparting tricky bits of information to an
audience! (To help the children remember the lyrics, encourage them to visualise what
they are describing.) Notice there is a spoken section at the end of each verse.
Divide the class into 2 groups for the section about Henry VIII’s wives, eg
Group 1:
Group 2:
Catherine of Aragon
Divorced!
Anne Boleyn
Beheaded
Jane Seymour
Died! etc …
The truth about the Tudors
Sing along with each track several times until the class is confident.
Encourage the children to perform the various sound effects (eg Ouch! Yuck!
Uurgh! Ooh Henry!) with vigour.
5. Practise singing the whole song
Sing along with the guide vocal track (track 1) until everyone is confident.
Practise singing with the backing track (track 10).
6. Add untuned percussion
Using the downloadable/photocopiable parts and the untuned percussion track
(track 10 ) teach the untuned percussion part. There are two main rhythms used
in the song, one during the choruses and one during the verses and chanted
sections. This means that you could split the part up for two players. Listen to
the rhythm (track 9) and then practise beating or clapping each rhythm as a
group. Practise playing the percussion parts along with the backing track
(track 10).
7. Add tuned percussion
There is one tuned percussion part (for chime bars). It begins at the beginning
of the first chorus and plays at every chorus and chant section. Use the
practise track (track 10) and the downloadble/photocopiable tuned percussion
part to learn the part and then practise playing it along with the backing track
(track 11). Note that on track 10 there are four beats given between each
section of the part.
9. Add the second voice part
The second voice part comes in at the final chorus. Use track 8 to learn the
part and then practise it with the guide vocal track (track 1). When this is
secure, practice it with the backing track (track 11).
7. Prepare to perform
Decide on a plan for the performance, recording as much detail as possible, i.e.
The truth about the Tudors
Introduction CD backing track
Chorus 1
Drum and chime bars
Verse 1
Verse drum pattern (if the part has been divided up for two players)
Chant
section 1
Chorus 2
Details of how the chant section will be divided
Chime bars
Chorus drum pattern (if the part has been divided up for two players)
Verse 2
Verse drum pattern (if the part has been divided up for two players)
Chant
section 2
Chorus 3
Details of how the chant section will be divided
Chime bars
Chorus drum pattern (if the part has been divided up for two players)
Verse 3
Details of how the chant section will be divided
Chime bars
Details of how the chant section will be divided
Chime bars
Details of who is singing the first part and who the second
Chant
section 3
Chorus 4
With your class, discuss non-musical factors that help make a good
performance (eg enthusiasm, confidence, energy, clear articulation).
As a group, think about:
- when and where you will be performing the song
- dress code / costume
Decide how you will stage your performance (eg everyone standing in formal
rows,or in group tableau) and rehearse in the performance space if possible.
8. Performance
Hold a dress rehearsal or final run-through, then discuss last minute
improvements in a positive way!
Perform ‘The Truth About The Tudors’ to a live audience.
The truth about the Tudors
Alternative Lyrics
Verses co-written by 5AD, Rhodes Avenue Primary School
chorus
On the twenty second of August, fourteen eighty five,
Out went the House of York; the Tudors had arrived.
They fought the Battle of Bosworth with courage and with pride,
Out went the House of York; the Tudors had arrived.
vs 1
Henry the Seventh was first in the Tudor line,
He took the crown from Richard the Third with a swish of his sword so fine.
The monarchy was strapped for cash when Henry reached the throne,
With good financial strategy, he brought the bacon home.
When he wrote his will he made it very clear,
That monks should sing his praises year after year, after year, after year.
chorus
On the twenty second of August, fourteen eighty five
vs 2
Henry the Eighth was six feet tall, and almost just as wide,
He fathered lots of children, but only three survived.
Hunting, sport and music were pastimes he enjoyed,
But if you disagreed with him, he really got annoyed!
He had six wives –
Catherine of Aragon – divorced
Anne Boleyn – beheaded
Jane Seymour – died
Ann of Cleves – divorced
Katherine Howard – beheaded
Catherine Parr – survived!
chorus
On the twenty second of August, fourteen eighty five
vs 3
Before Anne Boleyn was beheaded one healthy child she bore,
Elizabeth the Virgin Queen was really good at war.
She beat the Spanish Armada with power on her mind,
And good old Walter Raleigh at the helm of the Golden Hind.
She ruled for over forty years, was never seen to blush,
She had a clever relative who invented the toilet flush!
chorus
On the twenty second of August, fourteen eighty five
The truth about the Tudors
Alternative Lyrics
Verses co- written by Sapphire Class, Year 4, Muswell Hill Primary School
chorus
On the twenty second of August, fourteen eighty five,
Out went the House of York; the Tudors had arrived.
They fought the Battle of Bosworth with courage and with pride,
Out went the House of York; the Tudors had arrived.
vs 1
Do you know about Henry the Eighth? Luckily we do,
We’d like to tell you about him and his six wives too.
When he found he couldn’t divorce he thought the problem through
Then he got rid of the Catholic Church and took all its money too. Ooh Henry!
Catherine of Aragon, divorced; Anne Boleyn, beheaded; Jane Seymour, died;
Ann of Cleves, divorced; Katherine Howard, beheaded;Catherine Parr, survived.
chorus
On the twenty second of August, fourteen eighty five
vs 2
Don’t complain about your school, ‘cos Tudor ones were worse
Kids were whipped with canes and sticks, the blisters must have hurt! Ouch!
After Tudor tutoring when lessons all were done
They found some time for fun and games in the sizzling Tudor sun
They played cards, cricket, hopscotch, chess,tennis, marbles,
Hoop and stick, cup and ball, football with a pig’s bladder! Yuck!
chorus
On the twenty second of August, fourteen eighty five
vs 3
They used to wear enormous ruffs, much wider than their heads
They must have been quite glad to take them off to go to bed
They smeared on their make-up to make themselves look young
Instead of brushes or powder-puffs, they used a cow’s tongue! Urgh!
Elizabeth the First was never seen to blush,
She had a clever relative who invented the toilet flush!
chorus
On the twenty second of August, fourteen eighty five