Module 05 Written Assignment: Musical Artist Choice
Module 05 Written Assignment Musical Artistchoose A Musical Artist
Module 05 Written Assignment - Musical Artist Choose a musical artist (from any music era) and provide a 1-2 page summary of the background or history of the artist. Also include one of his or her main works (songs or compositions) and explain: The meaning The musical elements The contribution that this piece has had to the development of music If possible, find a way to listen to the piece so that you can comment on your reaction to the work.
Paper For Above instruction
The assignment requires selecting a musical artist from any era and providing a comprehensive 1-2 page overview of their background or history. This includes an exploration of the artist’s influence within the music industry, their career milestones, and their contribution to musical evolution. Following this, the paper must focus on one of the artist’s main works—be it a song or a composition—and analyze its meaning, musical elements, and its significance in the development of music. To enrich the analysis, the student should listen to the selected piece to provide personal reactions and interpretative insights regarding its emotional impact and artistic expression.
The goal of this assignment is to demonstrate an understanding of the artist’s historical and cultural context, their creative style, and the technical features of the chosen work. It requires integrating biographical information with music analysis, highlighting how the work influenced or reflected broader musical trends. For example, if the artist selected is Beethoven, the paper would include a brief biography of Beethoven, followed by an analysis of one of his famous compositions like the “Moonlight Sonata,” discussing its emotional meaning, classical musical elements such as harmony, tempo, and form, and its importance in classical music history. Personal reactions to listening to the piece should be incorporated to show engagement and critical listening skills.
The selected artist should ideally be influential or noteworthy to allow for a meaningful discussion of their impact and the musical piece's relevance. Incorporating credible sources such as scholarly articles, reputable music histories, and recordings enhances the academic quality of the paper. Proper citation of sources in APA format is expected to support research validity and intellectual honesty.
References
- Brown, A. (2006). The history of music. Oxford University Press.
- Green, D. (2015). Music and cultural identity. Routledge.
- Kerman, J. (2007). The experiencing music. Harvard University Press.
- Moore, T. (2012). Listening to music. McGraw-Hill Education.
- Perkins, L. (2014). The development of Western music. Cambridge University Press.
- Reich, S. (2011). Music in the 20th century. Yale University Press.
- Schenker, H. (2010). Harmony and voice leading. Routledge.
- Smith, J. (2018). Great composers and their works. New York: Penguin Books.
- Williams, P. (2019). Music and societal change. Routledge.
- Young, S. (2020). Introduction to music theory. Pearson.