21M.

011: PAPER 2 PROMPT DUE Friday, March 22 by 5pm

This paper assignment asks you to compare different recorded interpretations of instrumental music from the Baroque and Classical periods. All recordings are on Stellar. You should pick two or three out of the following five pieces to write about: Vivaldi: La Primavera, Movement 1. Allegro Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Movement 1. Allegro Bach: Contrapunctus 1, from The Art of Fugue Mozart: Symphony No. 40, Movement 1. Allegro molto Haydn: Symphony No. 100, Movement 2. Allegretto First, listen to the three recordings provided for each piece you have chosen. Details about the performances are on Stellar. When you are listening to the recordings, take careful notes about how they sound similar and different. Some musical parameters to pay attention to might include: Tempo and rhythm Timbre, instrumentation, and orchestration Style, ornamentation, and performance practice Pitch and tuning Determine what characteristics the recordings have in common and what seems more open to interpretation. For the parameters that are most divergent, speculate as to why the different performers / conductors might have made such different choices. Given these comparisons, now develop a thesis based around your subjective judgment as a listener. Which recordings do you think are the best? Make sure you are very specific about what distinctive features allowed you to come to that judgment. Reflect critically on what musical aspects you are valuing higher and lower to arrive at your preference. That is, if you prefer performances that seem more expressive, why is it important to you that music be expressive? If you prefer performances that sound original or clear, what benefits do you attribute to originality and clarity? Do not just say that something sounds more beautiful without being very clear what attributes you think are beautiful, why, and by what criteria! Please note that thoughtful and persuasive essays will include lots of specific comparisons and will cite track timings and/or formal markers to indicate relevant evidence for general claims and descriptions, as in the example following: The Muppets recording of Mahna Mahna features significantly jazzier orchestration than does the Cake recording of Mahna Mahna, as exemplified at the third return of the ritornello (1:21).

Use precise musical terminology as much as possible, as explained in the relevant pages from Forney-Machlis (e.g. pp. 41-43, 49-58, 131-134, 162-164, 170-178, 214215). Edit, proofread, and have fun!