For your written project this semester, you will be asked to research and reflect on the following question: For this class, we will define “music of the past” as any aspect of music dating from Antiquity to 1750, and “today’s world” as the world during your lifetime. You are free to focus on what you personally relate to and see as most relevant to the present. Your goals will be: -to learn more about a specific area of music history through research -to write a coherent and convincing paper -to relate academic work to your personal experiences and/or interests -to think creatively about history (50%) Choose that you find most interesting and perceive to be relevant in today’s world. Then research that specific area of early music to the point that you can discuss it accurately in 5 pages of your paper. –this is your opportunity to explore beyond what is covered in class! Suggested Topic Categories: Note that for each category, you will need to narrow your focus to . –music sponsorship and/or entrepreneurship –music and technology –musical notation or transmission –music and politics or propaganda –music and religious reform –music and ritual or piety –music and emotions –music and other art forms –performance practices or conventions –a musical event or venue –a musical ensemble or organization –a compositional technique or expressive device –a pedagogical method –a theoretical principle –a musical philosophy or idea The possibilities are limitless! Don’t hesitate to meet with me if you need help focusing your interests or simply brainstorming. (50%) Reflect on how the pre-1750 area of music you have researched is relevant in today’s world. You are free to interpret “today’s world” from any perspective, such as: a personal MHL 341 2 experience or interest, an aspect of your anticipated musical career, an aspect of the local community or your “home” environment, world events or issues (from your lifetime), a trend in present-day society, a music scene or venue you identify with, a particular use or style of music, etc. As you express your ideas in 5 pages of your paper, be sure to organize your thoughts logically and to connect them as clearly as possible to the material you have researched. . A few strategies you might consider: –Discuss a parallel phenomenon (e.g.: compare a medieval ruler’s use of music for political purposes to the use of music in a recent political campaign) –Examine an earlier concept that has persisted to the present (e.g.: an expressive device used by a Renaissance composer and your favorite pop singer) –Think about how people experience early music today (e.g.: present-day performances of an earlier work—who’s performing, who’s listening, performance venues, accessibility and transmission, etc.) These are just a few suggestions. Be creative! (due by Tuesday, Nov 7, noon), letter grade Submit a 10-page paper discussing your research findings on music before 1750 (50%) and expressing your personal thoughts on how the topic you researched relates to today’s world (50%). You are free to organize your paper as you wish, so long as you conform to the following criteria: — in addition to dictionaries, encyclopedias, source readings, and scores. . Avoid sources published before 1960 as well as book reviews. –Provide a brief introductory paragraph in which you state the purpose of your paper (your thesis statement) –End with a brief conclusi
on summarizing your most important points –Organize your material logically, inserting subheadings where appropriate –Make sure to distinguish clearly between your personal opinion (by using first-person “I”, for example) and information you have acquired from an external source (by ). . –Format your footnotes and bibliography according to Kate L. Turabian, , 8th ed. (Chicago and London: Chicago University Press, 2013) available in the Music Library: LB2369 .T8 2013 (on reserve . Be sure to also consult the . These include specific examples (such as online sources and scores) that will help you format your footnotes and bibliography quickly and correctly. –Format your document according to standard conventions (1-inch margins, double spacing, 12- point font Times or Times New Roman, numbered pages) –Submit 2 copies of your paper: a hard copy (submitted in class, or to me personally), and an electronic copy (submitted to Safe Assignment on Blackboard). I will post instructions for Safe Assignment submissions on the Announcements page on Blackboard before your paper is due. Your paper will be evaluated (with a letter grade) according to the following: –your writing and research abilities (clarity and accuracy) with sufficient attention to detail in your research findings –the coherency and creativity of your ideas and how effectively you express them –how accurately you connect your personal thoughts to your research –proper formatting and organization (according to the criteria listed above) (due by Friday, Dec 1, noon), for a better letter grade If you choose to revise your paper for a better grade, please follow up on all the comments you received on your original paper (which you need to resubmit with your revision). You will be evaluated on how accurately you implemented my specific suggestions and improved your paper overall. MHL 341 4 : entries in this open-access encyclopedia are extremely unreliable and can change entirely from one day to the next. (Anyone can modify an entry, so don’t run the risk of citing false information!) start by consulting the books on reserve in the Music Library (londonessays.com as well as , 2nd ed. [ML100 .N48 2001 (reference)] and Grove Music Online londonessays.com start by consulting: – , londonessays.com – , londonessays.com start by consulting the following anthologies, on reserve in the Music Library: – (New York: W. W. Norton, 2014) [ML172 .F37 2014 Suppl.] -Sarah Fuller, [M2 .E9 1987 and MT91 .E97 2006] – , edited by David Fenwick Wilson [MT6.5 .M9 1990] – , edited by Allan Atlas [MT91 .A58 1998] – , ed. Richard Freedman (New York: W. W. Norton, 2013) [ML172 .F742 2013] – , ed. Wendy Heller [ML193 .H44 2014] – , ed. David Schulenberg [MT91 .M87 2001 and 2008] start by consulting the following collections, on reserve: -Oliver Strunk, ed., [ML160 .S89 1998b] -Piero Weiss and Richard Taruskin, eds. [ML160 .M865 1984 and 2008] consult these electronic resources, accessible through the Research Databases on the ASU Libraries website (libguides.asu.edu/az.php): -RILM Abstracts of Music Literature -Music Periodicals Database MHL 341 5 -Music Index Online -Iter Gateway to the Middle Ages and Renaissance -WorldCat (catalogue of North-American publications) -JSTOR (but do NOT use this database as a research tool, simply use it to access articles) Students may wish to consult the ASU Writing Center for help with their writing, in person or online: londonessays.com