WORLD MUSICS (EMUS 2772): Concert Report/CD Review guidelines

DUE DATE: Tuesday, December 10 (no late papers will be accepted)

Description:

A written report on a concert event or a CD recording relevant to this course. The report should be a minimum of five pages, double-spaced, include bibliographic references and incorporate listening techniques and ideas about music in culture learned in this course. The paper is worth 10% of your total grade for the course.

Choosing a concert or CD:

Even in a major metropolitan area such as this one, Asian music concerts are sometimes hard to find although they are out there. The Naropa Institute in Boulder is a good source for concert events in Asian music. Concerts that may relate to this course are sometimes listed in newspapers (the free papers Westword and Boulder Weekly are excellent sources).

Upcoming events:

Saturday, Nov. 23, 7:30 PM, CU World Music Showcase, Glenn Miller Ballroom, UMC, Free admission. This concert will feature the CU Japanese Ensemble, the CU Balinese Gamelan and the CU African Highlife Ensemble.

If a concert that suits your needs cannot be found, a CD review is another option and the same guidelines apply (see below). The Music Library (second floor of this building) contains many CDs that would be appropriate.

Topic:

Your topic must be relevant to this course and the regions covered: Oceania (Australia and Pacific islands), Southeast Asia (Indonesia), Mainland Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam), the Middle East (West Asia: Iran, Turkey, Egypt), Central Asia (Tibet, Russian Republics), South Asia (India, Pakistan), East Asia (China, Korea, Japan). Popular music is fine so long as it comes from one of these regions. Consult your instructor if you have any questions about your topic or your report in progress.

Approach:

It is crucial that your report make some connection to ideas covered (or at least suggested) in this course. We have seen various ways in which music is used for personal, social, political, and religious purposes. Thus, your paper should be more than a simple description of events. Based on what you have learned about ethnomusicology from this class, you should be able to speak intelligently about music even if it is unfamiliar to you. Use the Listening Guide to help with discussion of the music sound itself. Refer to the first hand-out of this class, Questions of Ethnomusicology, for questions regarding both musical and cultural aspects. Remember the 3-part model of Sound-Concepts-Behavior to be able to ask questions without the use of a written list. Make use of concert program notes and CD notes (if any).

Writing style:

Papers should be written in a proper expository style with correct grammar and spelling. Avoid using a “TV announcer” style of writing (e.g., empty statements of praise; shallow information).

References:

Do a library search on your topic and see what additional information you can find out about the music. The articles in the course reader may be cited as well as bibliographic sources referenced at the ends of each of these articles. The Music Library contains many excellent resources for helping you understand and discuss the music you are studying. List your references at the end of your paper.