Listening Assignment

Listening AssignmentTo complete this assignment you must choose a listening selection from Section 1: Basic Musical Concepts (any of the classes from “Unity and Variety” up to and including “Folk Music, Art Music, and All That Jazz”), and write a two-paragraph summary.NOTE: You may use any piece EXCEPT See Here the Conqu’ring Hero Comes.Your summary must include the following to receive full credit:The name and composer of the selection.The location of the selection. (e.g. Introductory Concepts: The Structure of Music)A short analysis of the piece from the point of view of a Referential Listener. (Read the description of the Referential Listener, and use the attributes listed to analyze the selection.)Finally, indicate what musical “concept” is illustrated by the selection (e.g. musical idea, ensemble, solo performer, variation, etc.), and state intelligently whether you think the selection was effective in communicating this concept.Excerpts that are available to use are:Unity and Variety in the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s MessiahWith the help of the Listening Guide for the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah, arguably one of Handel’s best-known works, try to identify as many elements of unity and variety as you can in the music. In particular, pay close attention to the way Handel uses polyphonic and homophonic textures to introduce musical variety.”Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah: Listening GuideLet’s look at one example of each texture. First, listen to the following polyphonic passage, and notice how male and female voices come in at different times each with their own melody and rhythm to sing the text “And He shall reign for ever and ever”:Polyphonic passage (“And He shall reign for ever and ever”)In contrast, notice how all the voices and the orchestral accompaniment move rhythmically together to present the text “The kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” in the following homophonic passage:Homophonic passage (“The kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ”)