A. Choose a piece of music that:
is officially recorded and released by a reputable company. *Bootleg video or audio recording will not qualify.
is categorized as classical (art) music from anywhere in the world such as symphonic music (Western classical music), bebop (jazz), Hindustani classical music, Gamelan (Indonesian classical music), Chinese guzheng music, etc.
contains at least three instruments that produce sound acoustically. *Electric instruments such as electric guitar or bass are fine as long as they are manually performed by humans and not computer-programmed.
is either composed, improvised, or both
is at least 5 minutes long but not longer than around 15 minutes *Recording deficient in length will be deducted 0.5 point per 10 seconds.**An extended version of a short musical piece is not acceptable. ***If it is shorter than 5 minutes but you believe it qualifies for the paper, please contact me via email with the link first.
*Some helpful online sources: https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/, https://www.gramophone.co.uk, http://www.classical-music.com, https://guides.lib.unc.edu/jazzresources/websites, https://raag-hindustani.com, http://michaelbakan.com/textbook-resources/chapter-seven/online-resources/, etc.
*You may select one from the music from the class discussion topics (5-7 and some art music from 4) including the one you posted about. I would not encourage using the ones from the textbook since the analysis is already provided. However, if you decide to choose one from the textbook, fresh and original insights and additional information are necessary to earn points.
B. Submit a paper proposal (9 points): The paper WILL NOT be accepted unless your musical selection is approved by me. You must submit your proposal to the paper proposal dropbox folder “Paper Proposal” no later than 4/29/2024 for full credit. Include the following information:
The title of the composition
The name of composer(s) *Performer(s) should be added if they are significant part of the composition such as bebop and Indian classical music where the performers compose music as they improvise
The genre of the music (for example, “violin concerto”)
The length of the music
A link to the music online where I can have access to listen to
Links to five different legitimate online sources about the composer(s), performer(s), or music
What you expect to learn about this piece of music
C. Paper Requirements
1. Length: 1200-1500 words; double-spaced, 12 or 11-point Times New Roman font. *Papers deficient in length will be deducted 0.5 point per word. **Submission infomation (your name, date, class, and instructor name) or work cited page do not count toward the 1200-word requirement . I use this website to check the word count: https://wordcounter.net/
2. Format: Papers should follow the MLA (Modern Language Association) formatting guidelines. Go to: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html
3. Citing Sources: Your paper should use and cite in the text at least 5 legitimate sources (English only – no translated sources) and accessible to online only (no physical book sources). You may use Wikipedia document as long as they can be verified as accurate by other legitimate sources.
Make sure to use the correct MLA documentation to cite your work.
Even when you are not directly quoting from a source—i.e., you are summarizing, paraphrasing, or using facts—you must cite the source.
Be sure to introduce your sources, for example, according to …
When necessary, provide a parenthetical citation at the end of the cited passage.
Make sure to cite the correct sources. Falsely citing sources will be considered plagiarism.
4. Percentage of cited or AI generated materials: Your paper cannot contain more than 40% cited or AI generated materials all together. All papers are run through a software program/database that checks for originality and plagiarism. A very accurate calculation of the percentage of non-original material is generated for the instructor.
Papers with more than 20% will be deducted 20 points automatically.
Papers with more than 30% will be deducted 30 points automatically.
Papers with more than 40% will be deducted 40 points automatically.
Papers with more than 50% will receive zero points automatically.
5. Works Cited Page: Include accurate and correctly formatted works cited page at the end of the paper for proper grade and avoid plagiarism issues.
6. Proofreading: Make sure to check spelling, sentence structure, missing words, punctuation, etc. Careless mistakes will result in point deductions.
7. Plagiarism: The paper will receive zero points if significant and intentional plagiarism is found, and the student may be subjected to disciplinary action by Parkland College.
D. Grading
A total of 150 pts. possible
Title and Introduction: 6 pts. (4%)
About the music: 30 pts. (20%)
About the composers (and Performer(s)): 39 pts. (26%)
Analysis of the Musical Elements: 60 pts. (40%)
Conclusion: 6 pts. (4%)
Paper Proposal: 9 pts. (6%)
For any requirement not met, points will be taken off the total number of points earned:
Length: – 0.5 points per word below 1200 words
Percentage of cited material: refer to #4 in the requirement section.
Correct MLA formatting of the paper: up to -5 points
5 or more sources correctly cited in the text: up to -10 points
Correctly formatted works cited page: up to -5 points
Proofreading: up to -5 points
E. Submission
Paper must be submitted via the dropbox folder “Final Paper Assignment” to be graded. Emailed paper will not be graded.
Paper must be submitted as a docx or pdf file ONLY. If you use any other file format (RTF, PDF, or TXT, etc) or an un-readable format, the paper will not be graded properly until it is re-submitted as a Microsoft WORD file and the late submission deduction will apply.
*Late submission of papers: 6 points will be deducted for each day it is late. The paper will not be accepted three days after the due date.
F. Paper organization
The title: this should include the title of the music you are writing about. Also include your name, course name, instructor’s name, and the submission date on the top left corner.
Introduction: brief introduction paragraph about the main points that you are trying to discuss/argue in the paper. It should set up the body of the paper to follow.
About the music: background information about the music from your research. See below for more information.
About the composer(s) (and performer(s)): background information about the composer(s) (and the performer(s))from your research. You may include interesting information about them. See below for more information.
Analysis of the Musical Elements: this is the main part of the paper and should take up 50% or more of your paper (several paragraphs). Write about what you learned in analyzing this music. See below for more information.
Conclusion: bring the paper to a coherent closure in a paragraph.
Work Cited Page: (see C. Paper Requirements)
G. Research and discuss the following information
1. About the Music:
Essential background information about the music; composer(s), performer(s), composed date, and specific sub-genre (i.e. symphony, piano sonata, jazz quintet, etc) *A general genre such as “Classical music” is not specific enough.
Interesting stories behind the composing/performing process such as what this music was for, how long or short it took to compose, anything unusual, etc.
Any famous performers for this composition.
Historical significance or notable events about this piece.
2. About the Composer(s)/performer(s):
Essential background information about the composer(s)/performer(s) such as the date of birth (and death), nationality, main career(s), etc.
Notable musical contribution such as specific sub-genres or styles/musical period that the composer was known for, total number of compositions, innovative compositional approaches, other famous compositions, etc.
The relationship between the composer(s) and performer(s) if it is significant.
Any other interesting stories about them such as relationship with other composers or historical events, etc.
3. Analysis of the Musical Elements: Melody, Rhythm, Harmony, and Form
First, choose two or more excerpts from the recording that you believe important regarding the composer’s (and performer’s) musical purpose or goal. *Each excerpt has to be at least 2 minutes long.
Second, choose one excerpt that you enjoyed listening to the most. *The excerpt has to be at least 2 minutes long.
Use the following questions as guidelines to describe the details of the musical elements in each excerpt.
You may research the correct facts from legitimate online sources and cite them appropriately. However, you must point out to the specific part of the recording with timestamps to support your analysis and demonstrate your understanding.
– For the two or more excerpts that you believe important regarding the composer’s (and performer’s) musical purpose or goal:
a. Melody
Which instruments carry the main melody throughout and what other instruments carry supporting or counter melodies if there are any?
Describe the characteristics of the melody in the excerpt. Is it mainly tuneful and conjunct, disjunct, lyrical, rhythmic, etc
What is the register of the melody, high, low, or middle, etc?
Are there any recognizable motives or themes in the melody that recur overtime?
What is the scale this melody is based on – major, minor, pentatonic, etc.?
How does the melody portray the purpose or goal of this music that the composer intended?
b. Rhythm
Which instrument(s) provide(s) the main rhythmic pulse (beat) and what is the meter of this excerpt?
What kinds of distinct rhythmic characteristics are presented: strong downbeats, strong syncopation, irregular, etc. If there is a pattern, is it a recognizable style such as swing, shuffle, waltz, march, etc and how significant is it for this music considering the purpose or goal of the composer/performer?
Are all the instruments playing the same rhythmic pattern or are there more than one rhythmic patterns played simultaneously? If there are, which instruments play the different rhythmic patterns?
c. Harmony
Which instrument(s) provide harmonic foundations for this excerpt and how are they providing them? For example, piano can play chords, bass can play the root of the chords or bassline, string or horn sections can provide specific chords as a whole.
What is key of the piece at the start and what is the key of this excerpt? Is it changed (modulated) or stays the same as the beginning?
How conventional is the harmonic structure or usage in this excerpt: traditional/conventional, innovative, or both? Point to specific timestamps to demonstrate your understanding.
How important is the harmonic aspect of this excerpt considering the purpose or goal of the composer/performer?
d. Form
Does this composition have a recognizable form as a whole such as 12 bar blues, 32 bar aaba, sonata allegro, rondo, theme and variations, etc?
What part of the form does this excerpt seems to belong to? For example, intro, the first A of 32 bar AABA, the first A of rondo, bridge, recapitulation of sonata allegro, etc.
How this excerpt seem to present the specific part of the form appropriately? For example, this excerpt belongs to the introduction and the major key, conjunct melody, moderate tempo, and soft overall volume from the string sections seem to set up the tone for this peaceful composition.
e. Texture (discuss this only if you believe it is applicable and significant)
Does this excerpt display polyphonic textures such as fugue, contrapuntal melody lines, group improvisation, etc. If it does, which instruments are playing polyphonic melodies against each other? Make sure to point to the specific timestamps to demonstrate your understanding.
How important is the polyphonic texture in this excerpt considering the purpose or goal of the composer/performer?
f. Timbre (discuss this only if you believe it is applicable and significant)
How would you describe the overall timbre of the instruments in this excerpt: bright, dark, brassy, reedy, harsh, noisy, thin, buzzy, pure, raspy, shrill, mellow, strained, etc,
Are there any noticeable use of timbre such as trills, vibrato, or unusual/innovated use of instrumental tone color? Some of the music from the 20th century music display more of this type of effect with timbre.
How the characteristics of the timbre of these instruments fulfill the purpose or goal of the composer/performer?
g. Dynamics (discuss this only if you believe it is applicable and significant)
Are there any special about dynamic changes or use of dynamics in this excerpt such as a sudden change of volume, extreme quietness or loudness? How do you think this use of dynamics support the goal or purpose of the composer/performer?
– For the one excerpt that you enjoyed listening to the most
Use the guideline above, discuss which musical elements stood out to you and describe details the reasons for choosing them pointing at specific timestamps of the excerpt
