Composer Exploration and the Musical Element of Melody
This week we’ll take a look at some of the many composers in our world TODAY. Now, you’re reading and have read about a number of composers from Machaut and Purcell to Beethoven and Mozart. While these individuals have established and continue to provide a foundation for the wonderful music we have today (in ALL genres), I want you to start thinking about what kind of classical or art composition exists in our present world. How are we continuing this chronology of music beyond the popular genres we know so well? From that, we re going to start practicing some listening analysis and critique by looking at how each composer uses the musical element of melody.
To think about this more explicitly, your assignment this week is to explore and discuss a modern-day composer. Here are the assignment requirements:
1. Go to a search engine and find a composer that is alive today. You can also use other resources, but you must cite all resources in your posting.
2. Once you have identified the composer, find the composer s website. The website should have musical samples that you can either attach to your posting or provide a link for. If your composer does not have a website or musical samples, go back to Step 1 and choose a new composer.
If your composer has music on his site (most will), go ahead and post a short description of the composer and his/her works (no more than 5-7 sentences). Include the composer’s name, location, and other pertinent personal information (i.e. if s/he’s a conductor somewhere, holds a university position, etc.).
3. Then, choose a piece of music from his/her website to share with us via a link or attachment and write 4-6 sentences describing what you find interesting about this composer and the piece of music you have selected.
4. Finally, discuss the composer s use of melody in the selection you have chosen to share. Some guiding questions to consider might be:
Is the melody conjunct (smooth) or disjunct (angular)?
Does the melody stay in mainly one voice or does it travel between instruments or voice parts?
Is the melody long or short?
Does it have smaller repeated phrases or is it more free in form?
You can (and should) consider other aspects of the melody, but the previous questions should get you thinking in the right direction. Work hard to focus only on the melody. Be careful not to touch on the other musical elements to which we ve been introduced — we want to focus our listening!
5. After others have posted their contributions, read through and comment on at least 2 other postings. Appropriate responses are not simply “That’s a good point.” or “I like that description”, but should ask questions, provide meaningful insight, or respectively support or challenge ideas offered.
In general, responses should be at least a well-organized paragraph. Respond to as many as you wish, but 2 is the minimum.
6. The first goal is to see what composers are like today. The second goal is to see how composers are using melody. We might see similarities to the music we ve listened to and we might not. Feel free to share anecdotes, current events, or other items related to the composer that you may uncover.
World Music Styles – Compare and Contrast
I would therefore like to have you experience some of the music we don’t get to hear in this class. Your goal is to find a video (with audio of course) of a musical performance from a non-Western location. This can include any of the Asian countries, Eastern Europe (in some cases…Russian music, for example, is heavily Western), Africa, some indigenous Australian music (modern Australian music is Western), and Pan-Pacific nations
Share the link of the video with us and then comment on one element of music that is different from the music we have been listening to and are familiar with. Remember, our elements include rhythm, melody, harmony, tone color (timbre), and form. Your goal is to focus on one element and detail your explanation. Too often, we are guilty of discussing music in vague terms (“the melody flows freely” or “the beat is good”) and we don’t truly describe what is going on.
Understandably, this is a challenge – but I think it’s a worthwhile endeavor for an appreciation course.
Finally, once you have posted, return to the boards and listen to/watch other’s contribution. Read their comments. Then, post a response to at least two of your classmates. You can add more to their description. You can ask questions. You can refute their comments. Whatever you do, make it substantive and meaningful by providing detail and explaining in a clear and logical manner.
There are two approaches, please answer one per page thats all and read the details.
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