Listen to each and choose one musical selection from this list to write your listening reflection.
Linked to Chapter 2
Black Mountain Blues by Bessie Smith
Caldonia by Louis Jordan
Linked to Chapter 3
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho by Mahalia Jackson
Wade in the Water and Be Baptized by Belmont Silvertone Jubilee Singers
In the Jailhouse Now by Jimmie Rodgers
Answer the following questions as a text entry in your listening reflection.
What musical selection did you choose and why?
What instruments do you hear on this recording? (remember to include vocals in your instrumentation)
Describe the timbre of the performers? (remember that timbre describes the sound with your own adjectives)
What is the harmonic texture of the song? (remember that harmonic texture defines how the layers work together using the terminology from the Prelude Page in Week 1 Module)
Describe the overall mood and how this is accomplished.
What else do you hear? (remember this question is designed for you to talk about things that weren’t already discussed – how is repetition treated, how does the music enhance the lyrics, is there anything that sticks out that seems unusual, etc)
What is the most interesting thing about this recording to you? Why?
Remember to include as much information about what you hear as you can. Include as many musical terms that you can, but when in doubt, describe what you hear in your own words.
