For this week’s discussion, offer a reflection on the documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown. You will have to watch the documentary BEFORE writing your post.
What part of the movie surprised you?
What did you find most effective about the way the movie makers presented the topic?
Where there any scenes or interviews that stand out in your mind?
What other music documentaries have you seen, and how does this one compare?
Orchestral Instruments
The “Orchestra Instrument Families” video showed pictures of four instrumental groups and the sound of the instruments from each group.
Instruction
Before completing this, please ensure you have read and understood all the information on the “Musical Elements” page and watched a video on Orchestral Instruments. Please post addressing the following three questions:
How does the size of an instrument affect its sound volume?
What instruments make low sounds?
Which instruments play higher sounds?
Here lecture:
5.1. Instrumentation in Classical Music
During the Baroque Period, most standard Classical Musical Instruments were invented/developed, and the “Orchestra” was formed.
“Orchestra” is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from four different families:
Bowed string instruments: violin, viola, cello, and double bass
Brass instruments: horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba
Woodwinds: flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon
Percussion instruments: timpani, bass drum, triangle, snare drum, and cymbals.
While you are watching the “Orchestra Instrument Families,” pay careful attention to the following:
Four Classical Instrumental groups in the Orchestra: String, Brass, Woodwind, and Percussion.
Each instrument’s sound/pitch registers.
Each instrument’s looks and sizes
Student Learning Outcome
Define important musical terms and use those terms accurately in your own vocabulary.
Identify the musical characteristics represented by those terms in music.
Understand specific instruments and genres based on the musical characteristics observed.
You have now learned, the creation of Detroit techno was a powerful revolutionary act that, not only helped change Detroit, but also Berlin, as the soundtrack to a new world after the wall was destroyed. The music that united the East and West.
Now that we are in a state of flux and chaos, the world as we know it has shifted significantly.
[Write]
What is the ideal world that you would like to see?
Describe in detail what this world will look like, feel like, how will we treat each other.
What would be the soundtrack to that moment of change?
What would it sound like? Even though this music would be something new, what would the sonic influences be (list 3 song influences (with links).
4-5 pages double spaced in pdf format.
Your first listening journal assignment is to write a full 3-page essay that provides an analysis of one musical work relevant to Gateways 1 to 21 (found in Parts I and II of our course textbook) and studied in our class meetings. Your analysis should utilize the established methodology and parameters designated in our textbook and implemented in our class discussions. I have provided you with a list of suggested topics and works for consideration, or you may select a work on based on your own interests and investigations. If you would prefer to write your paper on a work outside of the suggested works, please discuss your plan with your instructor. Please do not write your paper on a gateway selection found in your textbook as it has already been analyzed.
You have considerable flexibility regarding how you approach your topic, but please develop an organized analysis that interrogates the most prominent elements of music and the most important of the five questions that provide the organizational foundation of our discussions: What is it? How does it work? What does it mean? What is its history? Where do we go from here? Your paper should be comprised of three to five pages of written text, and it should be written in standard academic English format (double spaced/ 11 font). Please include appropriate citations and a bibliography if you choose to consult source materials (all main style sheets are acceptable), and keep in mind that all papers are electronically reviewed for plagiarism. Most importantly, make sure that you fulfill the basic parameters of this assignment in your essay.
Here is the list of suggested topics or works to study based on our recent investigations of Gateways from Parts I and II in your course textbook (Music History to 1500 CE/ portions of Music From 1500 to 1900). This list also includes topics that we have not studied, but are perhaps areas of interest:
Music of Foragers: a music selection of the BaAka people or other Central African foragers (such as the BaBenzele)
Music of Nomadic Pastoralists: a compelling music example of Tuvan throat-singing by an artist or ensemble of your choice
Music of Horticultural Societies: a music selection by a panpipe ensemble of your choice from a horticultural society (such as the Kaluli people of Papua New Guinea or the Indians of Peru)
Buddhist Music: an excerpt of a Buddhist ritual practice featuring chanting
Christian Chant: a selection by a monastic choir featuring traditional Gregorian chant
Qur’anic Chant: a compelling example of Qur’anic chanting by a reciter from anywhere in the Muslim world
Early European Polyphonic Music: an example of four-part organum or a polyphonic mass setting by a notable composer from the Medieval period
Music of China: a compelling musical example of Chinese music featuring the qin or another traditional instrument
Music of the Middle East: a musical selection featuring the ‘ud, buzuq, or ney from the region of the Middle East
African Music: a compelling example of African music featuring mbira or a work that references traditional Shona music and singing styles
European Village Music: a compelling example of Bulgarian music featuring traditional instruments and dance forms
Renaissance Sacred Vocal Music: “Kyrie” from Pope Marcellus Mass by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina or another notable selection from a Renaissance mass or motet
Renaissance Secular Vocal Music: Now is the Month of Maying by Thomas Morley or another notable example of an English or Italian madrigal
Renaissance Dance Music: “Passamezzo and Galliard” by Pierre Francisque Caroubel from the collection entitled Terpsichore compiled by Michael Praetorius or any other selection from this collection
Renaissance Lute Music: “Flow My Tears” or “Come Again, Sweet Love Doth Now Invite” by John Dowland, or any notable Renaissance work featuring lute
North Indian Classical Music: a compelling example of North Indian classical music by a composer or performer of your choice
Baroque Opera: “Dido’s Lament” (Act III) from the opera Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell or another compelling selection from a notable Baroque opera
Baroque Orchestral Music: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major (First Movement: Allegro) by Johann Sebastian Bach (or another concerto grosso from this collection)
Baroque Sacred Music: Cantata No. 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Fourth Movement: Tenor Chorale) by Johann Sebastian Bach or another notable selection from a Baroque cantata
Baroque Keyboard Music: Organ Fugue in G Minor (Little Fugue BWV 578) or Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (BWV 565) by Johann Sebastian Bach, or a compelling keyboard suite by Handel or Bach
Javanese Court Music: a compelling example of Javanese court music by a notable ensemble of your choice
COURSEBOOK IS ATTACHED.
Your first listening journal assignment is to write a full 3-page essay that provides an analysis of one musical work relevant to Gateways 1 to 21 (found in Parts I and II of our course textbook) and studied in our class meetings. Your analysis should utilize the established methodology and parameters designated in our textbook and implemented in our class discussions. I have provided you with a list of suggested topics and works for consideration, or you may select a work on based on your own interests and investigations. If you would prefer to write your paper on a work outside of the suggested works, please discuss your plan with your instructor. Please do not write your paper on a gateway selection found in your textbook as it has already been analyzed.
You have considerable flexibility regarding how you approach your topic, but please develop an organized analysis that interrogates the most prominent elements of music and the most important of the five questions that provide the organizational foundation of our discussions: What is it? How does it work? What does it mean? What is its history? Where do we go from here? Your paper should be comprised of three to five pages of written text, and it should be written in standard academic English format (double spaced/ 11 font). Please include appropriate citations and a bibliography if you choose to consult source materials (all main style sheets are acceptable), and keep in mind that all papers are electronically reviewed for plagiarism. Most importantly, make sure that you fulfill the basic parameters of this assignment in your essay.
Here is the list of suggested topics or works to study based on our recent investigations of Gateways from Parts I and II in your course textbook (Music History to 1500 CE/ portions of Music From 1500 to 1900). This list also includes topics that we have not studied, but are perhaps areas of interest:
Music of Foragers: a music selection of the BaAka people or other Central African foragers (such as the BaBenzele)
Music of Nomadic Pastoralists: a compelling music example of Tuvan throat-singing by an artist or ensemble of your choice
Music of Horticultural Societies: a music selection by a panpipe ensemble of your choice from a horticultural society (such as the Kaluli people of Papua New Guinea or the Indians of Peru)
Buddhist Music: an excerpt of a Buddhist ritual practice featuring chanting
Christian Chant: a selection by a monastic choir featuring traditional Gregorian chant
Qur’anic Chant: a compelling example of Qur’anic chanting by a reciter from anywhere in the Muslim world
Early European Polyphonic Music: an example of four-part organum or a polyphonic mass setting by a notable composer from the Medieval period
Music of China: a compelling musical example of Chinese music featuring the qin or another traditional instrument
Music of the Middle East: a musical selection featuring the ‘ud, buzuq, or ney from the region of the Middle East
African Music: a compelling example of African music featuring mbira or a work that references traditional Shona music and singing styles
European Village Music: a compelling example of Bulgarian music featuring traditional instruments and dance forms
Renaissance Sacred Vocal Music: “Kyrie” from Pope Marcellus Mass by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina or another notable selection from a Renaissance mass or motet
Renaissance Secular Vocal Music: Now is the Month of Maying by Thomas Morley or another notable example of an English or Italian madrigal
Renaissance Dance Music: “Passamezzo and Galliard” by Pierre Francisque Caroubel from the collection entitled Terpsichore compiled by Michael Praetorius or any other selection from this collection
Renaissance Lute Music: “Flow My Tears” or “Come Again, Sweet Love Doth Now Invite” by John Dowland, or any notable Renaissance work featuring lute
North Indian Classical Music: a compelling example of North Indian classical music by a composer or performer of your choice
Baroque Opera: “Dido’s Lament” (Act III) from the opera Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell or another compelling selection from a notable Baroque opera
Baroque Orchestral Music: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major (First Movement: Allegro) by Johann Sebastian Bach (or another concerto grosso from this collection)
Baroque Sacred Music: Cantata No. 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Fourth Movement: Tenor Chorale) by Johann Sebastian Bach or another notable selection from a Baroque cantata
Baroque Keyboard Music: Organ Fugue in G Minor (Little Fugue BWV 578) or Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (BWV 565) by Johann Sebastian Bach, or a compelling keyboard suite by Handel or Bach
Javanese Court Music: a compelling example of Javanese court music by a notable ensemble of your choice
COURSEBOOK IS ATTACHED.
Online Pop Music Performance Report Instructions
Use this as the format for the report. The report should be uploaded as a Word document.
Do not include the questions and instructions, just your responses in an ordered list.
The report should be 12 point font, Times New Roman.
Try to use music language in the written report.
Please watch the three music video URL links to write your responses.
I also uploaded a sample of another student’s performance report as an example.
Grading Rubric:
Questions answered in sufficient depth and detail.
Report must be 700 words minimum, exclusive of the questions and any other extraneous wordage.
Correctly formatted: Report is formatted as an ordered list along the lines of the questions.
Online Performance Report
Your Name:
Date:
URL for each performance:
Genre of Music: Pop
Performance Summary:
Note the names of the artists performing, the names of the songs, and describe their instrumentation (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, sax, etc.).
Be as specific as possible in describing the genres (and sub-genres, if possible) of the music, e.g. if it’s rock, is it heavy metal, punk, alternative, etc.
For each song or piece, note the name and writer (if possible), and describe the music. You might consider:
a. the tempo (whether it was slow, medium, or fast)
b. the character of the music (was it exciting, mellow, soulful, etc.)
c. the form of the music (12-bar blues, AABA, etc.).
4. Compare and contrast the three artists or groups in terms of their musical and performance styles.
Personal Reflection:
Describe your overall responses to each of the performances and explain them.
Of the three, which was your favorite/least favorite performance? Why?
Would you want to attend an actual live performance by any of these artists? Why or why not?
Kovacik (2016) states, “Not only does music affect culture, but culture has a huge impact on music as well. Music often expresses the ideas and emotions of a society as a whole for that specific time, so as events and thoughts of a society are changing, the music for that time is changing too in order to fit in with what is happening in the world. During the Vietnam War, a huge amount of popular music was created to promote peace or put down the war. Musicians wanted to include the ideas of society at the time in their music, which is still something done in music today as well.”
Forum Prompt
This forum consists of three parts.
(1) Choose any listening example included in Modules 5-7, The Romantic Period” and “The Twentieth Century and Beyond”. Discuss whether Kovacik’s statement, “Not only does music affect culture, but culture has a huge impact on music as well” is true or false regarding your selected composition. In other words, does your selected composition reflect some aspect of the culture of its time? (See Kovacik’s comment regarding music and the Vietnam War.)
(2) Cite at least one source other than your textbook that supports your opinion. You may not use Wikipedia as a source.
(3) Cite your source using APA format for Internet sources.
Blacktronika Radio : The Good Life Mix (preparation for next week)
Write a couple of sentences on three of your favorite songs here from the mix. (I name all the songs throughout the mix).
Chose only 3 songs.