Attend a musical concert of your choice or view a full concert on Youtube (or
other video platform) and write a three - to- five page response to the performance using the concepts and
terminology you have learned in our class. This assignment should be typed in formal English and submitted
through Blackboard.
Your chosen concert should pertain to western art music or other musical styles addressed in our class.
Acceptable musical styles include all classical performances, opera performances, musical theater
performances, jazz concerts, and concerts of non-western music (such as the music of Brazil, India, Africa,
etc.). Please select a concert that stretches your musical experience into unchartered terrain.
Please reflect on the following considerations when writing your paper. Discuss the items that are most
important and relevant to your musical experience as you consider each work on the program (please feel free
to include other observations as well):
• Please analyze the pieces using the five foundational questions from our textbook that guide our musical
discussions.
• What did you like and/or dislike about the work and the performance. Why? Please be honest and straightforward, but justify your position.
• Discuss the most prominent musical features of the particular composition? Please consider information
learned in the opening section of your textbook and apply these musical concepts (melody, harmony, rhythm,
texture, form, style, etc.).
• Discuss the instrumentation and how it was used and exploited for aesthetic effect.
• Discuss the musical features of the composition as it relates to the historical period of the work.
• Discuss the importance of knowing the program in a programmatic work.
• Discuss the role of the conductor (if there is one) and how he or she led the ensemble.
• Discuss your level of interest and how it increased or decreased during the performance. Relate any
observations you may have about the concert atmosphere, audience members and concert etiquette issues.
Sample Solution