Comparative Analysis Writing Guidelines
Assignment Learning Outcomes:
- Identify and describe the various fundamentals concepts of music and music notation symbols by applying traditional terminology.
- Discuss and compare the various functions, uses, and contexts of music.
- Define and contrast historical eras and their musical genres.
- Evaluate music’s relationship to culture and society.
Instructions:
- Select three different songs as indicated below for analysis. Be sure to include functioning hyperlinks to a YouTube performance for reference purposes.
- Submit your essay online via SafeAssign. No emails, please.
- Essays will be graded in accordance with the Music Paper Grading Rubric.
Successful essays will include the following sections:
A paragraph analyzing one contemporary popular commercial music song of your choice written within the last twenty years (2000+) for melody and texture.
- Include a functioning hyperlink to a YouTube performance of the song.
- Justify your choice by answering the following prompts:
- What is the full title of this song?
- Who is/are the artist(s) featured on this work?
- What genre of music is this work considered to be from?
- When was this song released?
- What do the lyrics of this song say? (summarize in 2-3 sentences)
- Why is this song and artist important to you?
- Define melody and texture using official, correct definitions from course resources.
- Provide a detailed, objective analysis that specifically addresses melody and texture as heard in the music using associated course terminology.
A paragraph analyzing one work of your choice in the Western Classical tradition from any of the musical periods studied in this course for two of the following elements of music: rhythm, harmony, dynamics, tempo, and timbre.
- Note: This work may NOT be one of the ones we have studied explicitly in the course. You are to make a unique choice based on the works and/or composers that appealed to you from the historical periods we studied. Jazz and American Musical Theatre are not considered to be in the Western Classical tradition.
- Include a functioning hyperlink to a YouTube performance of the work.
- Justify your choice by answering the following prompts:
- What is the full title of this work?
- Who is/are the composer of this work?
- What time period is this work and its composer from?
- What type/genre of classical music is this work considered to be from? (e.g., symphony, concerto, art song, etc.)
- Who is performing this work? An ensemble? Soloists? Is there a conductor? Be sure to identify and differentiate between ensembles, single performers, and/or conductors as necessary.
- If there are lyrics, what do they say/mean in English? (summarize in 2-3 sentences)
- Why did you choose this work/composer?
- Define using correct and official definitions any two (2) of the following elements of music: rhythm, harmony, dynamics, tempo, and timbre.
- Provide a detailed, objective analysis that specifically addresses the two elements defined above as heard in the music using associated course terminology. If using a multimovement work, please identify and choose just one movement to analyze.
A paragraph addressing the following prompts on another work of your choice that we did study from one of the following styles: Western Classical tradition, Jazz, or American Musical Theatre. Please no popular/commercial music for this choice.
- Include a functioning hyperlink to a YouTube performance of the work.
- Justify your choice by answering the following prompts:
- What is the full title of this work?
- Who is/are the composer of this work?
- What time period and genre is this work and its composer from?
- Who is performing this work? An ensemble? Soloists? Is there a conductor? Be sure to identify and differentiate between ensembles, single performers, and/or conductors as necessary.
- If there are lyrics, what do they say/mean in English? (summarize in 2-3 sentences)
- Respond now to the following subjective prompts:
- Why does this piece appeal to you subjectively/Why did you choose this particular work? (No objective analysis required.)
- How does this music make you feel emotionally overall?
- Does the music remind you of anything? A life experience? A person? Another piece?
- Was there a specific point in the composition that affected you especially? If so, what did you feel emotionally during that/those moment(s)?
- How does this piece align with your cultural background and/or history?
- How does this piece align with your personal moral/ethical views?
- How would you convince someone else that this is a “good” piece of music?
Essay Format:
Your essay should adhere to the following formatting requirements. If you are unsure how to select these options, check with your instructor:
- Font size: 12 point
- Acceptable Fonts: Cambria, Arial, or Times New Roman
- Spacing: Double-spaced
- Length: At least 1000 words prose in the body of the essay