Instruction:
For the following project, choose a piece of music written between 800-1750 AD we have not
discussed in class and write a paper of 5-7 pages in length (typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-
inch margins). In this assignment, try to come up with your own thoughts, opinions, and
observations. Your essay should be organized around a central point, which is argued convincingly
and supported by evidence. While this isn’t specifically a research paper, you are strongly advised to
consult outside sources when needed, and when you do be sure to cite them properly.)

Remember, you will have to write about the actual music of your piece in your essay, discussing
specific musical details to support your point(s). While you will certainly need to refer the score for
the piece you are analyzing, it is important to note that this is not a “music theory” paper. You can
certainly point out any major events using Roman numeral analysis when relevant to your argument;
however, you should make sure it relates to a point you are making in connection to your thesis.
You will need to listen to the piece and think about its content contextually. When preparing to
write about the music, think of your piece in analytical terms. Think about the following musical
elements:
• form (how is your piece of music structured?)
• forces (what voices and/or instruments perform the piece?)
• timbre (the sound “color” of the vocal parts and instrumentation)
• texture (interrelationships between different voices/instruments; layers of instrumentation and use
of instruments at different points in the piece),
• harmony (does it use medieval modes or modern ones, both or neither?)
• tempo (is it a fast dance tune or a slower work?)
• poetic text (the lyrics, if any, including the work’s title)
Et cetera

Pay attention to which of the elements seem more significant to you in conveying a sense of the
music’s meaning, and then focus on those elements in writing about your piece. You do not need to
discuss all the musical elements of your piece, only those you find important to support your thesis.
Your discussion of the music should not be only a descriiption of what happens throughout the
piece, but instead what you think of the music—that is, your interpretation of the impressions and
effects it evokes.