Category: Music

You will be required to view two live music events – preferably of different musical genres – and then write a critical review and comparison.
– The performances MUST have occurred during the term;
– You cannot describe live performances/concerts that you previously experienced;
– They cannot be videos of live concerts, as found on YouTube or any other streaming service.
– The performances DO NOT need to be ones for which you have to pay; they can be free performances. Be creative in your selection of events! Buskers on the street; singers in a coffee house; a cover band in a bar; a church choir…
The review should be:
– 5 pages in length,
– double-spaced,
– 12 or 14 point font size, include background information on the composers and works performed and a critique of the performance.
– Background information may consist of where, by whom and for what reason the music was written as well as anything of historical importance associated with the works.
The critique portion of the reviews should be your own carefully thought-out reaction to the performances. Translate what your ears have heard into words, using terminology learned in this course.
(((For example, using words like Synthesizers, Recording Technology, The Digital Audio Workstation, Aerophone (wind) , Chordophone (string) Instruments , Idiophone (vibrating body) Instrument, Membranophone (skin) Instrument, Piano, Electric Guitar, Auto Tune, Timbre
Melody(notes, leaps and steps), Harmony (consonance, dissonance, I vi IV Y chordal progression), Rhythm (tempo, beat, allegro*), Form (verse, chorus, bridge and outro), and Texture (homophony, accompaniment, kinds of instruments))))

However, do not run through a checklist of musical descriiptions (i.e. classifying melodies as having many steps and leaps); explain what is unique about a certain piece of music. Texture, for example, is good to mention if it is significant; simply saying that the singer and guitar had a homophonic texture is obvious. How was the texture varied?
Compare the two events, including the music performed, the performers, the audience, and the venue. I am interested in your understanding of the social context of these musical events. For example, what is the significance of the age range of the audience? How may they have experienced the music previously? How did this influence how the performers interacted with the audience?
Lastly, please note that these do not need to be formal concerts – they are opportunities to experience and discover new live music is its many different forms.
Also, I have some examples for you; you can take a look.

Listen to one of this week’s music selections (see the readings). In a short paper (no formal APA format required), reflect on the following questions. You must address every question to get full points.
What are the recognizable and recurring themes or motifs in the music? How are they developed or changed throughout the piece?
What rhythmic patterns stand out? How do they contribute to the energy or mood of the music?
Describe the main melody of the piece. Is it memorable? How does it evolve throughout the music?
Does it remind you of any other music you know?
What instruments or human voice types are featured? How do they interact with each other?
How does the choice of instrumentation and number of instruments contribute to the overall atmosphere of the piece?
How are dynamics (loudness and softness) used in the music? Do they change frequently? What effect do these changes have?
What emotions or images does the music evoke for you personally?
Did anything surprise you or stand out while listening to the excerpt?
What historical period does the music belong to (such as Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary)?
Are there any cultural influences or references in the music? How does the historical context affect your interpretation of the piece?

Listen to one of this week’s music selections In a short paper (no formal APA format required), reflect on the following questions. You must address every question to get full points.
What are the recognizable and recurring themes or motifs in the music? How are they developed or changed throughout the piece?
What rhythmic patterns stand out? How do they contribute to the energy or mood of the music?
Describe the main melody of the piece. Is it memorable? How does it evolve throughout the music?
Does it remind you of any other music you know?
What instruments or human voice types are featured? How do they interact with each other?
How does the choice of instrumentation and number of instruments contribute to the overall atmosphere of the piece?
How are dynamics (loudness and softness) used in the music? Do they change frequently? What effect do these changes have?
What emotions or images does the music evoke for you personally?
Did anything surprise you or stand out while listening to the excerpt?
What historical period does the music belong to (such as Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary)?
Are there any cultural influences or references in the music? How does the historical context affect your interpretation of the piece

Please read the below information on Bach, view the two music videos, and read the article on the Chaconne. Complete the discussion as instructed below and reference the rubric for points awarded.
Johann Sebastian Bach was a paramount figure in the field of Baroque music, producing immense quantities of keyboard music for the organ and harpsichord, as well as chamber and orchestral music. He was equally versatile in choral music and all instrumental genres of the day, including sonatas, suites, and concertos. Among his most impressive instrumental works were those for solo violin.
For this discussion assignment, you will listen to two examples of Bach’s Chaconne in D minor and read a short article about the origin of the piece. Chaconne was originally written for solo violin and is one of the longest and most challenging solo pieces ever composed for that instrument. It is the final movement of a suite (Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004) and was written to commemorate Bach’s first wife’s death, Maria Barbara Bach, who died at the age of 36.
The Chaconne is frequently played as a piano transcriiption (notating a piece of music that has been re-written for a different instrument). It begins with a basic, short and simple theme and continues with 64 variations, each with evolving and emotional complexities.
You are to compare and contrast the first recording of the violin with the second one, which is the piano transcriiption, and read the short article on the Chaconne. Be sure to compare and contrast the two links above, not the ones in the article. You are encouraged to elaborate more on your thoughts and opinion, and please use your own words. For full credit, be sure to include answers to the following as a minimum.
How would you describe the beginning mood of the Chaconne?
Does the mood change as the piece progresses? If so, how?
Does the piano transcriiption sound similar to the violin?
What are the differences between the two versions?
Describe the texture, dynamic range, and emotional intensity.
After reading the article, what are your thoughts on why the Chaconne was written? Does it sound like a piece written for its intended purpose? If so, why?
Figure 1 : https://youtu.be/DBJPVnJ8m-Y?si=MtOCE0FMySiLQpc1
Figure 2:https://youtu.be/Eov5gKQ5J10?si=WRqjAYZN8Qa0bChq

Please read the below information on Bach, view the two music videos, and read the article on the Chaconne. Complete the discussion as instructed below and reference the rubric for points awarded.
Johann Sebastian Bach was a paramount figure in the field of Baroque music, producing immense quantities of keyboard music for the organ and harpsichord, as well as chamber and orchestral music. He was equally versatile in choral music and all instrumental genres of the day, including sonatas, suites, and concertos. Among his most impressive instrumental works were those for solo violin.
For this discussion assignment, you will listen to two examples of Bach’s Chaconne in D minor and read a short article about the origin of the piece. Chaconne was originally written for solo violin and is one of the longest and most challenging solo pieces ever composed for that instrument. It is the final movement of a suite (Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004) and was written to commemorate Bach’s first wife’s death, Maria Barbara Bach, who died at the age of 36.
The Chaconne is frequently played as a piano transcriiption (notating a piece of music that has been re-written for a different instrument). It begins with a basic, short and simple theme and continues with 64 variations, each with evolving and emotional complexities.
You are to compare and contrast the first recording of the violin with the second one, which is the piano transcriiption, and read the short article on the Chaconne. Be sure to compare and contrast the two links above, not the ones in the article. You are encouraged to elaborate more on your thoughts and opinion, and please use your own words. For full credit, be sure to include answers to the following as a minimum.
How would you describe the beginning mood of the Chaconne?
Does the mood change as the piece progresses? If so, how?
Does the piano transcriiption sound similar to the violin?
What are the differences between the two versions?
Describe the texture, dynamic range, and emotional intensity.
After reading the article, what are your thoughts on why the Chaconne was written? Does it sound like a piece written for its intended purpose? If so, why?
Figure 1 : https://youtu.be/DBJPVnJ8m-Y?si=MtOCE0FMySiLQpc1
Figure 2:https://youtu.be/Eov5gKQ5J10?si=WRqjAYZN8Qa0bChq

Watch two live shows on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0wpdS1II5ZQ?si=B8vCHz42IsRfqQ7
(Olivia Rodrigo – Live from the Ace Theatre (Amex Member Week Performance)
And

(Meshell Ndegeocello: Tiny Desk Concert)
In 500-750 well-chosen words, describe as many of the ways in which technology has influenced the creation and presentation of these two performances. You may choose to compare and contrast them.
You must provide several examples in each paragraph at a specific time to support your argument. Such as, “At 7:25, in a dance by Bruno Mars, the digital screen and lights frequently flashed in white, the beating of the lights will follow the rhythm of the dance. At 8:00, a new orchestra appeared, using the lifting platform, making full use of the space and time of the stage, and bringing more surprises to the audience.”
Concentrate on the music rather than the visuals. Take an educated guess as to how the music was put together.
Be selective, as we are not interested in a complete list, but in an analysis of the influence.

Answer three (3) of the following essay questions as fully as possible (approximately one-half to one page per question, double spaced). Please consult freely any sources that you feel will help you compose your essays. Source citations should be APA format and included as endnotes.

Requirements: The following are required for your paper.
3-4 pages in length, double spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font, 1inch margins.
Citations are required (I’d recommend using the one within your discipline).
I require that you use at least 3 books and 2 journals when writing your paper. The textbook does not count as 1 of the 3 books.

Requirements: The following are required for your paper.
3-4 pages in length, double spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font, 1inch margins.
Citations are required (I’d recommend using the one within your discipline).
I require that you use at least 3 books and 2 journals when writing your paper. The textbook does not count as 1 of the 3 books.

2 kinds of history to cover
Personal history ( what was happening to him around this time)
The history of the piece (did he take a long time working on it, did he started earlier then finished it later, was it written long time after the 8th, das Lied von der Erde (most of them are about lost, very devastating)
Triple blows fate???
The 9th symphony is sort of him grasping life again
Analysis part
Read about the heart beat in the beginning (Bernstein first talked about it)
The underlying rhythm in the beginning, it was him hearing his heart beat
3 ways to the analysis
This is a sonata form (1st theme, 2nd theme, what key is it in )
Look for quotation ( Strauss walzt quotation)
What it has to do w mahlers life
In the score mark sonata form (1st theme, 2nd theme and what keys they are in, mark where is the melody of Strauss waltz about enjoying life, is he using a perticular mode?, breakthrough)