MAS 401-02 Spring 2018

Final Project: April 19, April 24, April 26

Choose any piece of music – one you have performed, one you are working on, or one
you want to know better. There are no style or genre restrictions. There is no minimum or
maximum length.

Your goal is to engage in hermeneutics. That is, you will interpret some event(s),
process(es), and/or feature(s) of your piece; and this interpretation will enable you to
suggest an explanation that enriches the hearing of the piece and expresses your sense of
its meaning.

1. Graphic Component
Devise a way to represent graphically one of the following:
 the actions and interactions of sound, harmony, melody, and rhythm during a
significant segment of the piece;
 the actions and interactions of at least two of the above parameters over the entire
piece.

As before, your graphic representation must incorporate measure numbers, rehearsal

numbers, or other points of correspondence with the score.

N.B. If you are working on a texted piece, text does not count as one of the two (or more)
parameters for your graphic component. The text and your understanding of it will,
however, inform every decision you make.

You may employ any type or style of graphic representation.

2. Narrative Component
The primary material of your essay is described in the box above. In addition, your essay
will draw upon or incorporate specific ideas or methods from any one of the semester’s
assigned readings (your choice). Finally, you will also locate and use at least two other
readings or source materials of your choice (not from our syllabus) to enhance, support,
illuminate, or stand in opposition to your argument.

The essay must be a minimum of eight pages and a maximum of ten pages, not including
your graphic component. It must include citation of sources (footnotes or endnotes) and a
bibliography (not annotated) in Chicago/Turabian format.

Presentation
You will have 15 minutes to present and explain your graphic component, your methods,
and your conclusions and insights. You may take up to 3 minutes of your time to play
recorded excerpts of your piece (or perform them yourself). You must use your entire
allotted time; plan and practice what you will say.
Submission of project materials
Project materials (graphic component, essay, score, and link to some recorded version)
are due on May 3, 2018, 5:00 p.m. Earlier submissions are welcome.

April 19 April 24 April 26