September 18th, 2012

9/18/12

In Class:
Collected little notebooks.
Pop quiz: define 'melody' as it pertains to our musical studies in the past week.
Defined and discussed genre. A 'genre' refers to the label we ascribe to a 'kind' or 'style' of music; however, it also encompasses the broader culture surrounding a vein of music. 

Additionally, genres are difficult to nail down and can be reductive to the integrity and uniqueness of music. Paradoxically, while genres confine music, they also guide, challenge, and expand it. Oftentimes, it is easier to discuss music through mood, rather than genre, a concept which first arose in the 17th century.

Lecture on "generic imperative"--the notion that artists have certain obligations to fulfill within their genre in order to satisfy the audience and present comprehensible pieces. While generic imperative limits musical potential, it also guides it and indirectly encourages innovation. While genre can define artists, those artists also define their respective genres.

Discussed the idea of "cover songs," particularly as reinterpretations, often in different genres. Listened to and analyzed "Hey Ya" performed by Outkast [original] and by Obadiah Parker [cover].

 

Assigned and discussed Summative Assessment (final project). See post titled "Advanced Songwriting Summative Assessment" for details and rubric.

Homework:

Choose a song and a cover of that song; complete a Venn diagram analyzing the lyrical, musical, and affective similarities and differences between the original and cover, as we did in class today.