As you are doing your listening, select a focus piece, which particularly stands out to you, for whatever reason. Listen to it several times, identify it (piece, composer, performers, information about the setting of the performance) and write a commentary on it by providing three perspectives on the piece:

objective description: What is going on in the music? What instruments are used? If there are voices, describe the style of singing. How does the sound of this music differ from music you normally listen to? Is melody, harmony or rhythm most prominent to you? What kinds of textures do you hear? How does the piece use repetition?

functional description: What roles did the music serve? Where was it performed? Under what circumstances? Who were the performers? The audience? What musical characteristics made it appropriate for its functions? Do you know music from your own experience intended to fulfill similar functions?

critical response: What interests you, repels you, attracts you in this music? What does it evoke? Describe in your own words the effect the music has on you. What characteristics of the music are most important in causing the music to affect you the way that it does? What was the intended purpose/effect of the music at the time it was created?

The journal entries should be kept up to date each week.  I will check them at mid-term OR any time you wish more guidance.  The final journal (some sort of binder) is due the last day of class.