Hello I need help with a live performance (concert) review. If any one who knows music like Beethoven
etc.
and can assist I will be very grateful. Thanks
600 Words Minimum
The following additional ideas may help you to “break the ice” and find some things to write about. There are many approaches to take on this assignment. Please use your best academic-style prose writing (no bullet points).
Viewpoint: You are describing the event to someone who generally likes music but has never seen or heard a performance like this before. The following are some ideas to help you evaluate what you hear and to write your concert reviews. Please write your responses in your own words in prose form.
1. Setting: One or two sentences. A brief description of the environment (where and
when).
2. The Ensemble:
A. Describe the instrumentation that was used in the group. How were
they presented? As a group, or as a soloist accompanied by a group,
etc.
B. What was the role of the individual instruments? Were they playing
the melody? Or were they accompanying the soloist? Did they appear
to shift from melody/solo to accompaniment at different times? How
did the musicians appear to be using their instruments to fulfill these
roles?
3. The Music:
A. Describe the pieces individually. Did the titles appear to have any
particular meaning? How did the sound of the music relate to the
title?
B. Look for the following elements in describing the songs:
Tempo: slow, medium-tempo, fast (up-tempo).
Rhythm: Steady beat, complex rhythms, use of syncopation.
Changes in rhythm (did it start simple and then become
More complex). Danceable beat, or more subdued.
Could you nod your head or tap your foot?
Melody: In the heads or in the solos, did you hear long melodies?
Short “riffs?” Use of many notes? Use of a few notes?
Volume: When was it soft? When was it loud? Did the volume
change?
(Describe how the musicians used their instruments to achieve all of
these effects)
Mood: How did the soloist or ensemble start a particular piece?
How did they use the above elements of sound (tempo, rhythm, melody, volume) to convey different levels of
energy or different kinds of moods?
Examples: reflective, aggressive, pensive, exuberant,
melancholy, peaceful, or various combinations.
Did the musicians do anything in particular to “grab” the
listener and generate interest (i.e., played
simply in the beginning, played loud, played soft,
gradually grew louder, played a short rhythmic figure
over and over to build tension, etc.)?
C. The effect of the pieces:
What was the over-all effect of a piece and why?
Examples: Dramatic, startling, shocking, intriguing,
moving, interesting, peaceful, relaxing.
Did the piece or any of the internal sections draw you in?
Did they sound like they were telling a story?
4. Other impressions:
Did ANY particular aspect of any of the musicians’ playing make an
impression? Did you notice any impressive virtuosity or control of the
instrument? If you had to describe exactly what each of the instrumentalists
were doing to someone who hadn’t seen them, what would you tell them?
5. Did you observe any of the following, and describe how they were implemented:
Duple meter, triple meter, homophony, polyphony, monophony, introductions, endings, melodies, improvisations, syncopations, or any other musical elements which you observed.
