Jazz Concert Report JB:
Concert Report:
Assignment Overview:
You are required to attend one music performance of jazz music during the semester.
After you have attended the performance you will write a report on the event.
Below is a guide sheet of information you must cover in your writings.
The things you notice may be a thing that you like or dislike; what is important is that you express some sense of what affected you. What I am specifically looking for in your paper is evidence that you can hear the types of sounds and techniques we discuss in class. It is not necessary to comment on each and every selection, but you should be able to make intelligent remarks on at least three pieces.
Your paper should follow the following format:
(1) Description of the event and setting;
(2) Application of terms and musical concepts for first song:
(3) Application of terms and musical concepts for a song from the middle of the show.
(4) Application of terms and musical concepts for the final song of the concert:
(4a) Optional: Application of terms and musical concepts for further songs:
(5) Conclusion – including your reaction to the performance.
Within each of the above headings consider answering these questions:
Description:
? What is the concert environment? Is it an auditorium or outdoors? Is the music amplified?
? What kind of audience are you sharing this experience with and how are they reacting?
? Is the concert arranged with pieces from different performers (AKA a cover band) or is it organized around one artist? If you are seeing a cover band, is there any connecting theme to their selections?
? What are the performing forces? Instruments? Voices?
2. Application of terms to songs:
In applying terms or concepts, your statements should not only infer what the terminology means but perhaps what they might be attempting to elicit.
Perhaps a special effect might be used to build tension, or release tension, or add brevity or lightness, or heighten a particular mood?
Texture – is it basically homophonic, polyphonic, or monophonic (as in chant)? Or does it change in certain places throughout the piece?
Tempo – Consider the tempo. Is it relatively fast, slow, or does it change throughout?
Dynamics – Consider the dynamics and use dynamic terms (i.e. piano, forte, crescendo, diminuendo) to describe what you ear. Do they change frequently throughout the piece or do they vary only slightly?
Sonority – Is the piece primarily in a major key, minor key, or does it change throughout? Or is the piece so dissonant and expressionistic that it does not seem to have a key? (This is true in many modern compositions.)
Meter – Can you tell if the piece is primarily in a duple or triple meter? Or does it change throughout? If so, how? Or is it in an irregular meter, i.e. 5/4 or unmeasured rhythm?
Vocal qualities – If it is vocal music, are any of the songs a cappella? Look at the singers’ facial expressions, and listen for diction (did you understand the words?). Did you notice any use of vibrato? How was the breath control, posture, range and tonal qualities. If it is a chorus, can you tell if the different sections are balanced? Is the accompaniment too loud or too soft?
Structure – You might also comment on structure/form of the piece. Is there a recurring melody or melodic motif? Is the structure strophic (verse/chorus), theme and variations, sonata form, ternary, binary, through- composed, song form, 12-bar blues, or some other structure?
Performance qualities – How was the intonation? That is, are the instruments or voices in tune with each other? Were there some places that were out of tune? You might also consider the performers’ technique, tone quality and musicality.
Stylistic traits – You might also discuss the styles of the piece. If it is a performer we have studied, determining the period should be easy.