Assignment

Assignments: #1. Whenever a chamber group is assigned a new piece of repertoire, it is

expected that they will listen (individually and collectively), to at least five reputable recordings

of this work and document the name of the performer, metronome markings, and brief thoughts

regarding the group’s perception of each of the recordings. This will broaden the group’s

awareness of stylistic choices and performance practice, and provide the opportunity to compare

the variances and make informed decisions. Even though this class is a group setting, each

individual student is expected to complete this assignment and turn it in on Blackboard. DUE

DATE: Monday, January 29, 2018, 8:00 a.m.

#2. Chamber groups are also expected to research the pieces they are assigned and to bring a

two-page summary to the following coaching that contains information regarding: the

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composer, circumstances surrounding the composition of the work, any notable influences (i.e.

cultural/folk, historical, political, etc.), the premier performance, the basic structure of the work,

major key areas, and any other pieces of information that the student finds interesting. Having

an awareness of the history and structure of a work will facilitate informed artistic decisions and

a broadened knowledge base.

Please use footnotes in the body of your paper with proper citations. A third page must also be

included with a bibliography of works researched, properly cited. Please also note that I highly

recommend that you double check to make sure your papers are in Chicago-style formatting, and

that you take them to the CSUSB Writing Center for proof-reading. You will not be graded just

12 point font, double-spaced, Chicago-style formatting.

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on content, but also on formatting, grammar, punctuation, proper citations, etc. Writing well is a

very important skill and if it is not already a strength of yours, it is one you need to develop.

Here is the link to the Writing Center page with information on how to make an appointment:

https://www.csusb.edu/writing-center/students

Even though this class is a group setting, each individual student is expected to complete this

assignment and turn it in on Blackboard.

DUE DATE: Monday, January 29, 2018, 8:00 a.m.

#3. Chamber groups are also expected to study and know the scores for the pieces they are

playing. For this assignment you are to mark the following items on a copy of the score for each

piece that your group is doing:

1. Major sections–I.e. is the piece in sonata form, binary form, ternary form, is it through-

composed? Once you have identified the overall form, then each section needs to be identified

(i.e. introduction, exposition, development, recapitulation, coda, etc.) Please be very clear and

neat about writing the names of each section right over the place where they start.

2. Major key signatures/areas–To be clear, I am not asking you to analyze every chord in the

piece (although if you did, you would know the score even more intimately!) What I am asking

is that you outline the major key areas. So for each structural section of the piece that you should

have already identified, I need to see the starting main key area, and then any other major key

changes that happen within the section. As an example of how to mark this, if a section were in

A Major, I would put underneath the first chord “AM:” It is ok to use shorthand like that.

3. Melody–Please identify where the melody is at all times by writing an “M” over the start of

the melodic line in the part.

4. Tutti–Please collectively draw a square around all of the parts when they are in tutti (i.e. are

being written homophonically, whether they are marked “tutti” or not).

5. Grand Pauses–Please circle any grand pauses in the music.

6. Pair Playing–When your part is doubling that of another (either rhythmically, melodically, or

both), please mark these places in both parts with an asterisk (*) or star.

Feel free to mark anything else that may be of interest to you. These marked scores will set you

up for much more productive rehearsals and coachings as you will have an intimate knowledge

of the score, and therefore, the composer’s intentions. Even though this class is a group setting,

each individual student is expected to complete this assignment and turn it in on Blackboard.

DUE DATE: Monday, January 29, 2018, 8:00 a.m.

#4. By the end of the third full week of class, your group needs to have picked a name for

yourselves. Picking a name is a fun endeavor and should be a creative, professional reflection of

who you are collectively as a chamber ensemble. Enjoy brainstorming together and please know

that once this is turned in, this is the name for your group that will be printed in the program at

the end of the quarter. Here are a few resources that may be of use to you:

Choosing an Ensemble Name for Your Chamber Music Group

Making a Name for Yourself

DUE DATE: Monday, January 29, 2018, 8:00 a.m.

music is number 7 in files