Assignment: WRITING A CONCERT REPORT

Instructors in introductory music courses often require students to write one or more concert reports during a semester. Here are some guidelines for the preparation of such an assignment: first, a few suggestions on working with your own notes; second, points to consider for the content of your report; third, some information about usages or conventions in writing about music; and finally, an example of a concert report.

TRANSFORMING YOUR NOTES INTO A REPORT

You should plan to expand your notes into a complete report very soon after the concert-the same evening or during the next day or so.

It is often helpful to begin with an outline and then to write a rough draft. (If your instructor hands out a printed form for concert reports, that will serve as the outline.) Next, polish and edit your draft to produce the final version. Remember to check your grammar and the spellings of names (especially foreign names) and musical terms.

Below are recommendations for the actual content of your report-what to write. Following that, there is a section on vocabulary and usages, or conventions, involved in referring to musical works-that is, how to write about music.

WHAT TO WRITE: THE CONTENT OF A REPORT

The Concert as a Whole You should begin your report with a brief description of the concert attended, including the name and type of the performing group or soloists, the place, the date and time, and the music you heard.

You will also want to note whether the performers were attempting a historically "authentic" program. For example, in music by Johann Sebastian Bach, was a harpsichord (rather than a piano) used? For a symphony by Haydn or Mozart, was the size of the orchestra reduced? Did the performers use old instruments, or reconstructions of old instruments?

Then, you may want to describe your general reaction to the concert. Did you enjoy it? Did this event make you feel like going to other concerts in the near future?

Following this introduction, the paper might focus on the pieces you enjoyed most and your reaction to the performances.

Individual Compositions In discussing individual compositions, you will probably want to cover some of the following points:

• Musical styles. How did the composition correspond to what you have learned about the stylistic period in which it was composed-baroque, classical, etc.? Your appreciation of a work is often enhanced when you recognize its musical style.

• Musical genres and forms. What was the genre of the piece-symphony, concerto, tone poem, string quartet, étude, etc.? What musical forms were employed-theme and variations, sonata form, ABA, etc.? If you are reporting on an opera, you might note arias, recitatives, ensembles, choruses, etc.

• Program music. Was the composition program music-that is, was it inspired by a text, story, or place? If so, how did the music reflect the program?

• Emotions, images, and ideas. Did the composition evoke in you specific feelings or thoughts? For an opera, you should describe how the music depicted mood, character, and dramatic action.

• Memorable features. What features of the piece were most memorable-for example, did you tend to remember slower, lyrical sections; or triumphant parts; or fast, exciting parts? Were there any striking melodies and rhythms? Were there any unusual vocal, instrumental, or electronic effects?

• Musical themes. Were there several contrasting sections or themes within a movement? Did you recognize variations of particular themes or reappearances of musical ideas in different sections or movements?

• Comparisons with other works. It is often illuminating to compare a work with other works on the program, or with other works you have studied, noting similarities and differences.

Performance Your discussion of performance will be of a more subjective nature. You may want to focus on the following points:

• Emotional projection. Did you think that the soloists or group succeeded in projecting the emotional meaning of the work?

• Dynamics. Did the dynamics seem to have enough variety and flexibility? Did anything seem too loud or too soft?

• Tempos. What tempos were used? Did you think the tempos sounded right, or did some parts seem too slow or too fast? Could you identify any times when the performers intensified their expression of the music by using rubato-a slight holding back or pressing forward of tempo?

• Melodies. Did you think that the melodic lines were projected with a feeling of forward motion, lyricism, continuity, and climax? Did there seem to be a good balance between main melodic lines and accompaniment?

• Vocal and instrumental performances. Did the singers seem to have outstanding voices? Did the instrumentalists seem to be producing beautiful sounds? Did the performers' body motions add to or detract from the musical effect?

• The parts and the whole. Did you enjoy the give-and-take among various instrumental families (in an orchestra), voice parts (in a chorus), or soloists (in a chamber group)? In a concerto, did the soloist and orchestra seem well coordinated?

• The conductor. Did you get the impression that the conductor had the ensemble under control? Did the conducting gestures and motions seem to be conveying the feeling of the music?

• Opera. How would you describe the quality of the opera production? Were the sets, costumes, lighting, etc., appropriate and aesthetically pleasing? Was the opera sung in its original language or in translation? If it was sung in translation, could you understand the words? Were supertitles provided, and if so did you find them a plus or a minus? Was the opera presented in its original setting (such as the Latin Quarter of Paris around 1830 for Puccini's La Bohème), or was the action transposed to a different period? What did you think of the acting?

• Disasters. Performances-including those by famous musicians-do occasionally run into problems. Since professionals are good at "covering" slips, even quite sophisticated audience members may be unaware that anything has gone wrong; still, you may want to ask yourself some questions like the following: Did the performers seem to have a firm technical command of the music? Did they consistently play or sing in tune? Do you think you heard any "wrong" notes?

Attachment:- Writing-a-Concert-Report.rar