Writing Assignment #1

Spring 2018 - MUS 216

Due Date: FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2018 at 5:00PM

Primary Source Assignment

Primary sources are documents that offer first-hand information on the time period being studied.
They can include a wide range of artifacts such as sheet music, newspaper articles, photographs,
illustrations, recordings, and letters. These sources can reveal all kinds of information not
accessible through secondary sources (which themselves typically draw upon primary sources).
They provide historical context, filling in gaps that secondary sources leave out. They reveal the
nuances of attitudes, beliefs, values, and aesthetics of a time period. They can offer interesting
new avenues of research and discovery.

Your task is to locate, analyze, and evaluate a small group of primary sources related to a topic
of your choice, accessible through linked online databases. Rather than score-based analysis,
your analysis should be focused on historical context. The purpose of the assignment is to gain
skills in locating, selecting, and evaluating historic primary sources related to music.

1. First, choose a topic. This can be a composer, performer, work, performance tradition, or event
from the 19th or early 20th centuries. Some examples: you could choose to investigate primary
sources relating to Liszt, such as early editions of sheet music or his own writings. Or you could
look into 19th century writings on minstrel shows, searching for descriptions of performances
and attitudes about the genre. Or you could look for concert programs and reviews of a famous
performer's tours. You could look for 19th century books and articles that deal with the science
of music. Consider basing your searches around the U.S. and/or England so your sources will be
in English. If you are having trouble thinking of a topic or are unsure if a topic is acceptable,
please ask for help early!

2. Once you've chosen your topic, find three primary sources related to it in the databases listed
below. These sources must have been created between the years 1820 and 1920. You must have
at least two (ideally three) different types of sources. Some examples: a concert program, a
review, and a letter relating to a premiere; two recordings and an editorial relating to ragtime; a
book, a periodical article, and a manuscript, etc.

Types of sources:
* Newspaper, magazine, or periodical articles and reviews from publications devoted specifically
to music OR from more general types of publications
* Printed music (must be an edition published between 1820 and 1920 – consider looking for
works with a preface)
* Concert programs
* Books
* Recordings
* Manuscripts
* Letters, diaries, and other personal material
3. Next, write 1500 words describing and evaluating your sources. Consider the following
questions in your write-up:

* What do each of these sources reveal individually about the topic?

* What do they reveal as a group?

* What can of information can you get from these sources about the time period in which they
were written or published? Do they reveal any particular attitudes, beliefs, or values regarding
music?

* How can you relate these sources to concepts we've discussed in class?

* Please include basic information about your sources including title, author, date of publication,
and type of source.

Databases: [links to these are live on the CANVAS Assignment page]

Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive

Music Periodicals Database
RIPM (Retrospective Index of Music Periodicals)
ProQuest Historical Newspapers (In addition to large papers like the NYT, this database contains
African American newspapers like the Chicago Defender and other smaller, regional
publications)
National Jukebox
UCSB Wax Cylinder Archive
Historic American Sheet Music
HathiTrust Digital Library
Google Books
archive.org
New York Philharmonic Digital Archive
Morgan Library & Museum
Juilliard Manuscript Collection
Harvard University digital scores and libretti collection
Library of Congress
fultonhistory.com
Levy Sheet Music Collection

Evaluation:

You will be evaluated on the appropriateness of your topic, your ability to locate and describe
relevant sources that meet the specified criteria, and your success at synthesizing these materials
with one another and the time period in a clearly-worded, grammatically correct essay. Think of
this as the beginning of what could be a larger project: you don't have to make an argument or
reach a conclusion, just assess the sources as historical documents capable of revealing
something about their time period.

Tips:

* Start searching early! It might take some time to find the right sources for your project.

* Be flexible - if you really want a recording for your third source, but can't seem to find one,
consider choosing a different type of source.

* Limit the date ranges in your searches to make sure you're finding documents from the right
time period.

* A note on books: books are often considered secondary sources so if you choose to use them
make sure you're looking for the right kind of information. For example, if you look at a
biography of Liszt from 1872, consider what the biography is telling you about how Liszt was
viewed at the time, rather than what it is telling you directly about Liszt.

* If you need help or have any questions, please ask!!

Email: oliviacacchione2021@u.northwestern.edu (or message on Canvas)

Office hours: Wednesday, 12:30-1:30, RCMA 4-148 or by appointment