Select one early musical instrument to research from the list below:
Clavichord – Cornetto (or cornett) – Crumhorn – Harpsichord – Hurdy Gurdy – Lute – Pipe and Tabor – Portative Organ – Psaltery – Rebec – Sackbut – Serpent – Shawm – Vielle – Viol
(Not sure where to start? Choose a strange-sounding name that is unfamiliar to you!)
Spend some time researching your chosen instrument on the internet. Please note that you are primarily researching the version of the instrument that was used in the medieval/Renaissance periods, not any modern equivalent. Use the following as a basis for your research:
What type of instrument is this? Woodwind, brass, strings, keyboard, percussion? Haut (high) or bas (low)?
How is this instrument played and how does it produce sound?
What does the instrument sound like? See if you can find an audio recording or YouTube video featuring the instrument. (Tip: a recordings anthology called “Dictionary of Medieval and Renaissance Instruments,” available on YouTube, includes recordings of many of these instruments.)
What kind of music did this instrument play? Dance music? Sacred music? Song accompaniments?
Was this instrument played on its own or with other instruments? What kinds of other instruments might you hear with it?
During what centuries was this instrument used?
Was the instrument associated with any specific country, region, or group of musicians?
What modern instrument(s) is this early instrument similar to? What are the similarities and differences?
Note down anything else about your chosen instrument that seems interesting and unusual!
Please follow the instructions correctly.
1)Start submitting the assignment on June 15
*Any assignments submitted BEFORE June 15 will NOT be accepted!
2)This is a research assignment (Option 1). You must include the works cited page (5 points).
3)Once you research, study all the information, please write about the instrument in “your OWN words”.
*All assignments will be scanned by Turnitin for Plagiarism.
*Including a long quotation is not allowed , NO in text citation, quotes
–
4)Your unnecessary info does not count toward a minimum 400-word requirement.
At the beginning of your work, ONLY include your name & the title
Do NOT include class info, instructor’s name, submission date
5)Start a NEW paragraph every time you discuss a NEW topic/idea.
*Make sure you spend enough time on each topic/idea
*Your assignments shouldn’t be written in a long paragraph ( 5 points)
6)Make sure you answer ALL the questions
7)Only ONE submission is allowed (please double check everything before submitting the assignment)
8)If you choose Option 2, you must include the time frames ( 10 points)
9)Late submission penalty: if the submission timestamp is marked as “LATE”, you will lose 5 points. NO exception!
For example, LATE – submitted on June 22 at 12:02 am: this is STILL late. Always start uploading your assignment (word doc) before 11 pm.
10)Don’t simply answer the questions. Follow the academic writing structure like a short essay!
