TOM Since 1900/Spring 2018

PRESENTATION ON A CHOSEN MUSICAL WORK COMPOSED AFTER 1900

Due May 2 or 9

Teach your classmates and instructor to hear and understand what interests you analytically in a piece
of music that you choose. Give a presentation of six to eight minutes and submit a typed sheet
containing essential information about the work.

This assignment is optional. Depending on the suitability of your chosen work and the quality of your
presentation, completion of this assignment can benefit your performance in the course in one of the
following ways: (1) erase up to two tardies or one absence, (2) replace a grade on an assignment of D+
or below (including a 0 for a missing assignment) with a grade up to a C-, or, (3) boost your grade in
class participation. If you complete the assignment, you will choose which one of these three options
you wish to take. You must complete this assignment on your own except for assistance from your
instructor.

The presentation
• Presentations will take place on May 2 and 9. By noon on Monday, April 30, sign up or email to
reserve a slot on one of these days.
• Structure of the presentation
• One minute or less: Provide essential information about the piece (see “Submiting essential
information” at the end of the assignment.
• Three to five minutes: Introduce the analytical “problem”: something in the piece that
engages you but that would require more analysis and research to understand. State the
analytical problem as a question and then explain it more fully. Then, describe what tasks you
would need to complete to answer this question. State why learning the answer to your
question might benefit a listener or performer. Use appropriate concepts and terms from your
theory courses.
• Two minutes: Play one or more excerpts from the piece. You may perform the excerpts or
play a recording.

Choosing a piece of music: Choose a musical work created after 1900 that exhibits sufficient
complexity so that your analytical question would require further in-depth analysis to answer. The
work may come from any repertory –classical, rock, folk, jazz, musical theater, non-Western music,
etc.– but must have been created (composed or improvised) after 1900. You may not discuss music
you composed. Do not not choose a work that contains in its title or text (lyrics) any obscenities or any
words or sentiments that might be understood as degrading or hurtful to yourself or others. Check
with me if you have questions about your particular selection.

Preparing for the presentation: So that we have time to hear everyone's presentation, please be
prepared to start your presentation quickly. If you perform, please have your instrument and score
ready to go. If you plan to play a recording, please have your excerpt ready on your phone or other
device. If you must play from YouTube, have the video number ready so that you can find it quickly.
If you will be playing an excerpt that is not at the beginning of a work, please check timings before
coming to class. Please note that the 1/8” jack attached to the classroom sound system is unlikely to
work with current cell phone models. If you wish to play from your phone, you will need portable
speakers.

Submitting essential information: After your presentation, submit a typed sheet with the essential
information about the piece, as appropriate: title, composer, performer, and year of composition or
improvisation. In addition, note on the typed sheet which option you choose from the three in the
second paragraph above.