Meaning in music
During the semester, our goal is to discover and define meaning in music from different cultures and time periods. In Discussion 1, you listened to a piece of music and made a thesis on whether the music was happy or sad. There are certain characteristics in music that informs a listener of the mood of the music.
Research a piece of music that is not discussed in the music appreciation book for this class. No music with words. Construct a thesis statement letting your reader know what characteristics in the music informs a listener of the mood of the piece that you chose to write about. In an essay, lay out the findings of your research that support your thesis statement.
Does the body of your essay support your thesis statement? Does everything you say point back toward your thesis in continuity? (Worth 20 points)
◦ Your essay must include at least three references from a composer, performer, music historian, or musicologist that support your thesis.
Dictionary.com does not count as a reference.
◦ In the body of your essay, do not talk about the history of a musician or the history of a subgenre/style unless there is something about the history of the subgenre that a listener can aurally experience – like hearing 80s pop influence in the music of Bruno Mars. The body of your essay is only for supporting your thesis. Do not turn your paper into a history essay.
◦ And note: the purpose of a body in an essay is to explain the things stated in the introduction paragraph. If it is not mentioned in the introduction, it ought not to be explained in the body of the essay.
