The music research paper is the primary assignment in this course. By the end of week 4, you will submit a short paper describing your music research topic. You will also provide a brief reflection explaining why you chose that topic and how you will conduct your research. Your instructor will need to approve your topic choice. Each week you will work on sections of your research. The final research paper is due at the end of week 7. The text of the research paper should be approximately 1500 words, not including the title page, the discography, the interview or observation, and the APA or MLA reference page. The schedule is as follows:
- Week 4: Brief Paper Describing Topic
- Week 5: Annotated Bibliography (Reference List in MLA or APA)
- Week 6: Discography
- Week 7: Music Research Paper (MLA or APA -including title page, paper, discography, and references
| Assignment | Description | Points | Due |
| Topic Proposal | Describe your chosen topic and why this topic is of interest to you. Briefly explain where you will find your research resources. | 5 | Week 4 |
| Annotated Bibliography | List at least 3 resources you will be using in your paper. Include the proper scholarly citation in APA or MLA. Write 2-3 sentences for each explaining the significance of this resource for your topic. | 10 | Week 5 |
| Discography | Detailed music listening analysis of one full music cut (or 2 shorter music clips) that exemplify the music for your topic. | 10 | Week 6 |
Research Paper
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You may write this paper in first person. Introduce your topic and explain your interest. Provide some historical and cultural background that describes the importance of this musical genre in cultural history.
Use at least 3 resources, photograph, and graphics. Include the final reference list in APA or MLA format: books, websites, journal articles, etc. Use only the resources that you cited or referred to within the final paper. In your submission at the end of week 7. Insert your discography from week 5 and your interview or observation from week 6. |
25 points | Week 7 |
| Total Points for the Classical Music Research Paper | 50 points | ||
What should my research paper cover?
- Describe the important style features of this music as they apply to your topic. What are the qualities of each musical element? Describe using appropriate musical terminology.
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- Mood and Emotional Expression
- Rhythm
- Dynamics
- Tone Color
- Melody and Harmony
- Texture
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- Describe this music or composer in historical/cultural context. Who finds this music meaningful in society and why? How is this music used socially, spiritually, physically, emotionally?
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- Role of Music in Society
- Historical/Cultural Performance Practice
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- Activities involving Music – Who performs? Who is the Audience? How do they participate?
- Repertories of Music – What kind of music is this? How do different kinds of music vary in terms of style, etc.? Analyze the genre, text, musical style and purpose.
- What instruments and materials are used to create music?
- Describe the significance of the musical work you have chosen for your discography.
Possible Topics
You may propose other topics, but you will need to get approval from your instructor.
- Composer (See the featured composers in the summary at the end of each part of your textbook for ideas. Select one composer, describe the musical style, and explain the musical, cultural, and historical significance of that composer’s music).
- Music and Dance (Choose a particular historical period or composer/choreographer)
- Music and Visual Arts (Choose a particular composer and artist and compare stylistic features, era, genre, etc.)
- Music and Theatre (Explain the significance of music in a historical theatrical production of an era)
- Chamber Ensemble (Choose one ensemble in one era and explain significance in historical, cultural context)
- Musical Instruments from one historical period.
- Ancient music: Greek, Roman,
- Musical Genre: See the section summaries for each historical period for ideas.
- Middle Ages: Gregorian chant, mass, organum, early instruments
- Renaissance: Motet, madrigals, the lute, Renaissance instruments, dance
- Baroque: Basso continuo, fugue, Well-Tempered Clavier, chorales, cantatas, early opera
- Classical: Opera, concerto, symphony, chamber music, string quartet,
- Romantic: Symphony, program music, song cycle, piano, nationalism, exoticism, symphonic poems, opera,
- 20th Century and Beyond: Impressionism, neoclassicism, primitivism, expressionism, minimalism, serialism, 12-tone system, Sprechstimme, chance (aleatoric) music, prepared piano, mixed media, electronic music, quotation music, influence of jazz on classical music, musical theatre, music for film. impact of analog or digital recording on today’s music
Questions to Consider:
- When is or was this music performed, composed, or improvised? Is it part of a historic tradition? What is the role of this music in society during this period in time?
- Where is it played, sung, or performed? Or how is it distributed?
- Who listens to the music? What are the common musical events – festivals, concert, recordings, cultural events, dance, drama, religious, ceremonies, etc.? How important is music to the audience members?
- Who are the performers? How are the treated? What do they play or sing? What costumes or dress do they wear? What are their different roles – conductor or leader, chorus, solo, dance accompaniment?
- What is the music like? Rhythm? Melody, Instruments, Vocal, Style, Form?
- How does the music fit in the culture of its time? How does the music make people feel? What is the emotional impact on the music for the performer and for the audience? What function does the music have in this particular culture or society?
