The 19^th Century

a) Define and discuss the concept of "Romanticism" as it applies to the musical culture of Europe during the 19^th century.

b) Compare the musical conventions of Italian opera (Rossini, Verdi, or Puccini) with those of German opera (Wagner). In this essay you will identify a specific operatic scene or musical excerpt from each tradition.

The 20^th and 21^st Centuries

a) Discuss one of the following terms: 1) "Modernism" or 2) "Postmodernism," as it applies to the musical cultures of Europe and/or the United States during the 20^th/21^st centuries.

b) Define and discuss one of the following terms: Expressionism, Primitivism, Serialism, Neoclassicism, Neoromanticism, Aleatory Music, or Minimalism as it applies to the music of the 20^th/21^st centuries. Remember to include a detailed discussion of a specific musical example.

Jazz

a) Define and discuss your view of the term "fusion" as it applies to jazz; your definition may incorporate musical, socioeconomic, and/or cultural issues.

b) Discuss the idea of improvisation as the central tenet of the jazz aesthetic. Choose a specific musical example and provide a detailed discussion of the improvisation that takes place within your selected performance/recording.

World Music

a) Select a musical culture or genre (other than one from the United States or England) and discuss how your selected musical culture or genre has influenced music in the United States. Be sure to include a specific musical example in support of your answer.

b) Select a musical genre or style from the United States and discuss how your selection has influenced a musical culture outside of North America. Include discussion of a specific musical example.