Concert Review / Outline and Guidelines Writing these reviews is like observing an archaeological treasure unfold. So, it would hel
MUS 108—Introduction to World Music / 20% (Two Concert Reports)
DUE DATE: November 18 at 2.00 PM. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Concert Review / Outline and Guidelines
Writing these reviews is like observing an archaeological treasure unfold. So, it would help if you thought beyond the glamour, enjoyment, and atmosphere. Instead, you must examine the setting and determine what’s being staged and what’s not, what is authentic and what’s not! For example, you may observe the singer’s accent and what persona they’re projecting. You have to answer the question as to why the musicians made the choices they made and what the reasons behind such decisions are. Is it money? Is it fame? You could examine the general school of thought that governs the performance, i.e., what type of Jazz is this? Where did it originate from? Are the performers an extension of a specific lineage, i.e., white, black, creole, etc.? Think also about the subject matters addressed in the lyrics. Were the songs secular, religious, or political? Who are the performers? What’s their background, and how did they end up together and doing what they’re doing? Is this the only thing they do to earn a living? Were they standing, sitting, moving, interacting with the audience during the performance, etc.?
What about the audience? How old were they, how interested or engaged they seemed, and why?
You should not use glorifying and subjective terms such as the singer was great; the concert was amazing, unique, fantastic, brilliant, beautiful, mesmerizing, thrilling, I loved it, etc. Instead, keep a critical distance from the performance and offer an objective critique.
No reviews will be accepted after November 18
Before the virtual concert
If you are unfamiliar with the names of musical instruments, you may want to investigate them beforehand.
Preparation:
Have a Word document open so you can take notes. Remember the following terms and use them in your review: style, language, culture, setting, meaning, purpose, politics, period, social status, function, staging, production, environment, authenticity, perspective, etc. Utilize some of what we discussed in class, such as genre, role, position, hierarchy, use, relation to identity, ethnocentrism, and inside vs. outsider.
What to watch for:
Take notes to remember your experiences and impressions. Listen to the performance attentively, objectively, and analytically.
Think of what the music is trying to tell you or what message it’s trying to convey. Why is the music written and performed this way?
Was the performance successful or meaningful? Why?
The writing process:
Paragraph 1: Talk about who performed where and what type of music you experienced.
Following paragraph(s): Provide more detailed statements about the concert based on your observations. This is when you must explore the performance from the abovementioned perspectives.
Concluding paragraph(s): State your overall opinion of the concert; you may compare it to other experiences you have had.
Submission
You must submit your concert reviews as two separate files in PDF format. Make sure that you name the document with your name, as such: Your Name – Concert Review – 1
(Centered) Title of Review (should briefly reflect your opinion of the concert)
Minimum length: not less than one single-spaced page (font 12 or smaller) or two double-spaced pages. Description of paper: 500 words, typed, double-spaced, one-inch margins, 12-point font, titled.
All written assignments must be sent via email to [email protected] in PDF format.
