Choose a piece.

● Choose a piece.
○ They are all by composers we’ve encountered or will encounter soon.
○ Choose something that you really enjoy because you’re going to have to
get to know it well.
○ Listen to it a couple times in the beginning. Do some research. Listen to
it more. Start your work. Listen to it more. Listen to it some more.
● Discuss some historical aspects of the piece.
○ What is the type of piece and how does it show that?
■ For example, if it’s a fugue, what about it is fugue-like? If it’s a sonata, discuss that form. If it’s an Agnus Dei, what is its place in the mass? Etc.
○ How does it reflect what you learned about the composer?
○ How does it reflect the style of its time period?
an outline of the form using timestamps.
● Create
○ Be able to show the form of the piece with these timestamps.
○ Notice when musical elements change. These usually help define form.
○ What form is it? Is it typical of what it’s supposed to be? Why or why
not?
● Talk about the piece in terms of its musical elements.
○ The musical elements were from Chapters 1-3 in your textbook.
○ Discuss anything you find interesting about the rhythm/meter,
pitch/harmony, and instrumentation/timbre.
○ If it is a vocal work, how is the text used?
○ And most importantly, how is the composer using these elements to
create the musical experience that you’re having?
● Finally, talk about your subjective experience getting to know the piece.
○ This can be about the emotions that it might suggest.
○ You can also talk about any imagery that it might evoke.
○ Perhaps something about the performance or performers is interesting to
you and worth mentioning.
○ Be creative! Anything you think is noteworthy can be mentioned.