Music Analysis

    Pick a single piece of music and argue for why it should be included in a “musical canon.” Listen to this piece of music several times, taking notes on the individual musical dimensions we have discussed: meter, tempo, rhythm, pitch, melody, harmony, timbre, instrumentation, form. Decide which of these dimensions are the most important for understanding this particular piece of music. Listen again and take another set of notes precisely and accurately describing these important dimensions. Go beyond the “framing” dimensions (tempo, dynamics, instrumentation) and focus on the unique features of your piece: melody, melodic phrasing, harmony, form, timbre, lyrics (if applicable), etc. etc. In a clearly organized, carefully edited paper (650–750 words), argue for why this piece of music should be included in an introductory music class, backing up your argument with historical, philosophical, and/or aesthetic evidence. Imagine that you are writing this essay to the editor of the new edition of the textbook, Listen. Why should they keep this piece of music in the textbook, or why should they add it if it’s not in there already?