Composition Essay

Music Assignment You are to write an essay of 5 typed pages which identifies why the subject is important and discusses his/her life and work briefly. ÊIt should include quotes, and follow the essay form. (5 or more sources; thesis tells importance; discuss the music you listened to.) Ê
For this assignment, you will need to choose a musician/composer, research him/her, listen to the music of this individual, and put it all together in an essay. ÊIn terms of the music that you listen to, it is important to be familiar with several pieces/songs/albums of the subject. ÊIf you choose a classical composer, you should listen to and discuss at least three major pieces (try to get a variety of works). ÊFor other subjects, try to listen to music from several points in their careers. ÊYou can check them out from libraries or buy them. Ê
The music you listen to and write about must be listed on your work cited page. You can quote from ‘liner notes. ÊI want you to place the piece/song in the context of the career of the subject and also write a paragraph that gives your own feelings about the music. ÊIn this section only can you use the “I” pronoun. Ê(You do not have to limit yourself to three classic pieces or three ‘albums’ of the subject.)
The list: Classical: Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann, Purcell, Mozart, Hadyn, Mahler, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, Wagner, Strauss, Verdi, Puccini, Chopin, Bruckner, Sibelious, Stravinsky, Copland, Varese, Debussy, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Shostakovich, Cage, Feldman, Ives, Satie, Prokofiev, Barber, Britten, Hindemith, Ravel, Schoenberg, Webern, Berg, Bartok, Bernstein, and others Oked by me. Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Scott Joplin, Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Art Tatum, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Mary Lou Williams, Wes Montgomery, Chet Baker, Ornette Coleman, Anthony Braxton, William Parker, Steve Lacy, Kenny Dorham, Cannonball Adderly, Joe Pass, Cecil Taylor, Paul Chambers, Red Garland, Dizzy Gellespie, Lee Morgan, Dexter Gordon, Jackie McLean, Bud Powell, Blue Note RecordsÉetc. ÊÊ
No matter who you choose, take time to listen to all the names on the list as you have time. Êmp Suggested classical music to listen to: Just as there are certain films, books, and paintings that educated people should be familiar with, there are pieces of music that these same people should listen to and understand. ÊWhat follows is a shortlist of pieces that deserve to be heard by each succeeding generation. ÊIf you have at least one ear on your head, you will inevitably find joy in this music. BachÑThe Cello Suites (solo) (These could be the greatest pieces ever written. ÊOnce you become familiar with them, it is interesting to hear a number of interpretations.); ÊThe Well-Tempered Clavier ( Bks I/II); ÊThe Brandenburg Concertos; The Goldberg Variations (piano); ÊEventually you will want to listen to all of BachÉ.or at least as much as one lifetime will allow. BeethovenÑAll the symphonies, but especially the 5 th, 7 th, and 9 th; ÊAll the String Quartets; ÊCertain of the Piano Sonatas. BrahmsÑThe Fourth Symphony BarberÑAdagio for Strings BrittonÑFour Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes DebussyÑPreludes ( Bks I/II); ÊLa Mer; ÊThe String Quartet; The Afternoon of a Faune; ÊClair de Lune RavelÑPavane for a Dead Princess; ÊThe String Quartet; ÊLe Tombeau de Couperin; ÊBolero; Mother Goose Suite SatieÑGymnopedies MozartÑPiano Sonatas; ÊVarious Symphonies and String Quartets; Eine Kleine Nacht Musik; Piano Concertos StravinskyÑThe Firebird; ÊPetroushka; The Rite of Spring ProkofievÑ5 th Symphony; ÊPeter and the Wolf; ÊRomeo and Juliet ShostakovichÑ5 th, 7 th, 8 th, 10 th Symphonies; ÊAssorted String Quartets; HadynÑ88 th Symphony (Plus other late symphonies); ÊAssorted String Quartets DvorakÑ9 th (New World) Symphony CoplandÑAppalachian Spring; ÊBilly the Kid; ÊRodeo HandelÑThe Messiah (All the oratorios and operas are great.); ÊWater Music; ÊRoyal Fireworks Music; ÊConcerto Grossi VivaldiÑThe Four Seasons SchoenbergÑPierre Lunaire, String Quartets MendelssohnÑMidsummer’s Nights Dream suite ÊMahlerÑSymphony #1, 5, 9 BartokÑString Quartets, Concerto for Orchestra