Research Project – Music Composer

Research Project – Music Composer

Purpose

We will gain deeper insight into the life and works of a single composer. Composers lives are often very colorful and interesting. Sometimes, their unique life story is reflected in the kind of music that they made. Composers create within a specific culture and time, so understanding their life helps us understand their music.
We will compare the music of two specific composers from two different periods of Classical Music history. This will help us to see the style characteristics of the two periods and be able to recognize them by hearing.
Directions

Please find the due dates for different parts of this assignment in the course calendar.

Part 1

Go to the “Composer Project” Discussion forum. If your last name begins with A-M, you are in the Baroque group. If your last name begins with N-Z, you are in the Classical group. Please choose a composer who lived in your assigned time period (check their birth and death dates) and post your choice in the “Composer Project” discussion forum. You may find this list helpful. Let’s try for one student per composer, so check the list to see if anyone has already chosen your composer.
You are responsible for researching this composer and submitting a report on that composer for the rest of your classmates to review. Please choose your composer by the due date indicated in the course calendar.

This is the customer and my last name is K******. So I will be in Baroque group. You can choose whoever you think that fits in to that category.

Part 2

Begin conducting research on your composer. Your final report should include the following:
Biographical information on the composer including birth and death dates, location, instruments played, teachers/education, prominent students, positions held, and influence on music history.
Style period of the composer including musical characteristics.
Detailed analysis of two works by the selected composer.
A list of important works by the composer.
A brief review of a CD containing works by the selected composer.
Citations and a “Works Cited” page must be included. You must cite the Oxford Companion to Music article for your composer. Please review the attached Writing Guidelines (Writing Guidelines.doc).
NOTE: It is a good idea to write your response in a word processor first, then copy it into Canvas.

By the end of the due date indicated in the course calendar, you must post your report in the “Composer Research Project” forum.
Part 3

Compare your composer’s work with the composers from the other period. For example, if you are in the Baroque group you will compare your composer’s work with at least two composers in the Classical period. You must complete this part by the end of the due date indicated in the course calendar. Post your answer in the form of a response in the Composer Project Discussion Board.

Compare/contrast at least five of the following Elements of Music:

Contrast of Mood or Unity of Mood?
Dynamics – Contrasting volumes or the same throughout, gradual or sudden changes?
Rhythm – Fast or Slow Tempo? Are there any tempo changes? Simple or complicated rhythms?
Texture – Homophonic, Polyphonic, or Monophonic?
Melody – Simple or busy, Stepwise or disjointed, staccato or legato, etc.
Instrumentation – Vocal or Instrumental? Which instruments are used?
Form – Binary, Ternary, Sonata, Rondo, etc.
Purpose – Sacred, Secular, etc.
Grading

This project is worth 75 points. Part 1 is worth 5 points, Part 2 is worth 50 points, and Part 3 is worth 20 points.

Part 1 – will be graded on the following criteria:

Posting of the chosen composer on time = 5 points.

Part 2 will be graded on the following criteria:

Completion of assignment with required elements = 20 points.
Use of appropriate musical terminology = 20 points.
Writing Style, including proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation = 10 points.

Part 3 will be graded on the following criteria:

1st Response = 10 points
2nd Response = 10 points
Two points for each element of music that is compared

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