What Do You Hear When You REALLY Listen?

Please do not limit your essay to only responding to the questions below – these questions and concepts are important, but should be viewed as a starting point for a complete musical and cultural analysis of your selection

1. Name the piece and the musician(s), if possible. Describe the piece of music in as much detail as possible – does it have a repeated theme? Are there distinct sections in the piece? Where do these distinct sections start and end? (please list exact timings in the video where these sections start and end). When sections are repeated, are they exactly the same? Are soloists featured? Was the music composed by the person (people) performing? What time period is it from?

*What else can you say about the music by listening to it? (with precise timings for musical details).

2. Name the instruments. If you’re not sure of all the instruments, try your best to describe the sounds. Describe how they contribute to the whole composition.

3. Describe the tempo (speed), dynamics (loudness/softness), and complexity of the music. These can change a great deal throughout a piece of music, so indicating where these changes occur in the music/video is very helpful (if there are changes).

*Describe the music in the context of the musical terms we have studied.

4. Discuss if you’ve heard music like this before, and your general thoughts on the style and sound of your specific selection.

5. State how all of the above contribute to the overall sound and specific style of the music. How do the musical elements create either a traditional sound, or a contemporary sound, or a blend of both? *How do the musical elements relate to the tradition and culture that you have selected. 

***Please note that this assignment should be in ESSAY form. While the questions listed above are very important to consider, please do not just submit a list of numbered answers to these questions. Instead, please write in ESSAY form, with as much precise timing information as possible, with specific references to the music, musical details and musical events and elements.

I am looking for content, originality, and a response that is clear and shows depth of thought.

       MY SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW YOU SHOULD PROCEED:

1. Review the ‘Terms to Know’ lists in Units 2 through 7 (textbook chapters one through six).
2. Review the terms specifically related to the musical tradition and culture that you have selected (from the ‘Terms to Know’ sections of the modules/units).
3. Watch/listen to your song selection numerous times; get to know it. You’ll hear something new each time you listen.
4. Write down what you hear. The following should be discussed in your essay, when possible and relevant: 
5. >instruments played
6. >instrument Hornbostel-Sachs categories
7. >instrument groupings throughout the piece
8. >which instrument(s)/voice(s) have the main melody
9. >which instrument(s)/voice(s) play or sing harmony to support the 
10.    main melody
11. >Form (what is the organization of the different sections of music)
12. >entrances of new instrument(s) or voice(s)
13. >important starts of sections of the song (e.g. verse, chorus, intro)
14. >return/repeat of a melody
15. >melodic range
16. >entrance of a contrasting melody
17. >ornamentation of the main melody
18. >dynamics changes
19. >texture changes
20. >tempo and tempo changes
21. >rhythms and polyrhythms
22. >meter (four beats/quadruple time, or …
23.           three beats/triple time, etc.) 
24. >rhythmic cycles
25. >improvisation 
26. >single-line textures
27. >unisons in textures
28. >melodic and rhythmic ostinatos
29. >polyphonic music
30. >harmony and harmonized textures
31. >multiple-melody textures
32. >interlocking melodies
33. >call-and-response textures
34. >vocables
35. >microtones
36. >issues related to the society in which the music was created
37. >blending of musical styles and traditions
38. and …
39. ***any terms specifically related to the musical tradition and culture that you have selected (from the ‘Terms to Know’ sections of the units/modules). 
40. Begin to write down the exact times(minutes and seconds into the song) that you hear each new section, and name/identify these sections (such as verse, chorus, instrumental solo, etc.).
41. Soon, a shape will emerge and you will be able to identify the Form of the song. Label each contrasting section (introduction, verse, chorus, instrumental solo, etc.), so that the musical form is very clear.
42. Each time you go back to listen again, add more details within each section from the list above. *Discuss the terms specifically related to the musical tradition and culture that you have selected (from the “Terms to Know” sections of the units/modules).
43. Add closing observations and commentary.