Description
describe how the music is used to “paint” the characters and plot (don’t just give me a synopsis of the plot or music only, discuss the use of the music with the story).
The paper should be 4-5 pages in length (not including the title page and “Works Cited” page, if any outside sources are used. (ALL OUTSIDE SOURCES USED IN YOUR PAPER MUST BE INCLUDED IN A “WORKS CITED”
General Points To Consider:
1. How different movements of a longer work are related or contrast each other.
2. How two different works or movements project specific moods or characters (cite the musical elements that the composer used to create that character/mood).
3. What are the different instruments used and how are they used? For example, do the strings or brass play all the time, or maybe the brass only plays at specific moments in the piece? What effect do you think the composer or piece is trying to achieve?
4. How musical elements (listed below) and lyrics (if used) define the character, emotions, and style of a song.
5. We will study Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionism, and 20th c. Modern styles. Which period does a particular piece belong to? Aside from the date it was composed, what musical characteristics place it in that period? Many 20th c. composers borrow techniques and styles from earlier periods. Does this apply to any of the 20th c. works?
—- Remember to always focus on the musical elements: melody, harmony, tonality, rhythm, texture, instrumentation, form, dynamics, and lyrics/text (if there are text/lyrics present).
How do all of these elements combined, contribute to the effect on the listener? Which of these elements specifically contribute to the style or character of each piece?
Try to avoid a “blow by blow” description of the music, such as saying, “the first one was slow then fast then slow again and ended fast”. Instead, answer the more general questions and support your answer with specific musical characteristics. For example, you might say, “The music made me dance in an uncontrollable frenzy. The musical features that contributed to my deranged behavior were the dissonant harmonies screaming from the brass, the pulsating beat (felt like duple meter) echoing from the drums, and the operatic style singing that penetrated the very essence of my soul. Or you might say, “This piece conveyed the image of a unrequited love. The musical characteristics, aside from the repetitive French text, “mal de coeur brise” or, as we say in English, “achy breaky heart,”was the use of violins playing a minor harmony and scale, a slow adagio tempo and the flutes singing a pianissimo sad melody. Try to see the larger picture, making general points and backing them up with specific observations.
In your final paragraph, state your subjective experience – (I hated this song, I liked this song, this song put me to sleep, this song made me cry, this song made me want to dance etc.). But you should be able to clearly articulate why you felt the way you did, what specific qualities in the music contributed to your impressions. Your conclusion must contain the statement; “I liked/disliked this concert because…”.