StMaryMusic

2011-01-26T05:56:00.000-08:00

Begin reading "Blues People" by Amiri Baraka.
A 500 word summary of chapters 1, 2 and 3 will be due Friday, February 11.

2010-12-07T15:19:00.000-08:00

assignment for december 17:

read chapters 3 and 4 in cook and write a 500 word summary for each.

we will be finishing the book before break.

2010-10-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

assignment for friday, october 29th:

read chapter 2 "back to beethoven."

see me to get mp3s of beethoven pieces discussed in the book.

write your own response to beethoven's ninth symphony. responses must be 500 words or more.

2010-10-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

For Friday, October 25:

summarize nicholas cook's argument about "authenticity" in music from chapter 1 of Music: A Very Short Introduction.

your summary should be 200-300 words.

assignment 2:

compare 2 artists of your choice, one you think is "authentic" and one who is "inauthentic."

present a clear argument with examples.

500 words.

2010-10-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

for friday, october 15:

read the first chapter in Music: A Very Short Introduction.

if you don't have the book yet, stop by and borrow mine.

also, see me to get recordings of the pieces discussed in the text.

we're planning a field trip for early december....details to follow.

2010-09-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

order the books from the syllabus!!!!!

music: a very short introduction by n. cook

blues people by amiri baraka

for friday, sept. 22

write a 500 word album review for your favorite album of the summer.

reviews must be typed.

also, print out at least 3 other reviews of the same album and attach them to yours.

remember, this is an ALBUM review, not a review of a single or video. read other reviews to get a clear idea of what it should be like.

2010-09-09T11:45:00.001-07:00

Independent Study 2010-2011

assignment 1, due friday, sept. 17

write a 500 word essay about the music you saw or listened to this summer. be sure to explain your choices and opinions clearly and use details where possible.

2010-05-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

final paper:
in "Best Music Writing 2009" there is an article by David Remnick called "Bird Watching" about a NYC jazz DJ named Phil Shapp. His program, "Bird Flight" is on WKCR, the Columbia University Radio Station. He also has a program called, "Traditions in Swing."
Read the article....it is long.
Listen to AT LEAST 3 complete broadcasts of his show between now and the end of MAY. No excuses, since we have days off. schedule accordingly.
It is mainly about Shapp's obsession with saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker, who we discussed last year.
Write a 3-5 page response to both the article and Shapp's programs. Focus mainly on the historical importance of the music, and the host's obsession. Shapp is extreme, but why is this music so easy to become obsessed with?
Papers are due June 1.

2010-03-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

album reviews were good.

assignment for March 29:

research the South by Southwest Festival, which just took place. Review three (3!) different bands that performed there. Reviews must be 250-300 words long.

then write a 500 word essay about the importance of SXSW and its place in the music industry.

there is an article about last year's SXSW Festival in the "Best Music Writing 2009" book. It may or may not help.

2010-02-11T13:10:00.000-08:00

Winer Break:

Over break, buy a copy of "Best Music Writing 2009" by Da Capo press.

also:

choose an album you own that was released in the last year. find and print out 5 reviews of this album from major publications.

write your own 25o word review of the album, and a 250 word summary of what you learned from the other reviews.

due february 26.

2009-12-29T16:00:00.000-08:00

New Due Date:

for the end of the quarter write a longer paper on a subject of your choosing. you can run it by me beforehand if you want. kevin, you do owe me the russian response paper. see the post below for details on the longer paper.

2009-11-20T08:28:00.000-08:00

Chapter 7 response on music under stalin (shostakovich and prokofiev especially) is due before thanksgiving....sorry about the friday due date.

over thanksgiving, read chapters 11, 14 and 15. it's a lot of stuff, but truly amazing writing, and you'll have lots of time to do it after eating. see me next week to download some examples so you know what you're listening to. Chapter 11 ends with some great observations, and 14 and 15 basically spell out everything happening now.

your assignment is to think of a topic, based on alex ross' book (especially these three chapters) to write a longer paper on (1500 words or so). think about why this type of music is important. he's discussing "classical" music, but does that word really describe this stuff? what is it?

the papers will be due december 20.

2009-11-13T05:16:00.000-08:00

second quarter:
reaction paper to chapter 7 in "the rest is noise" due 11/20
we will finish this book over thanksgiving break.

2009-10-23T04:27:00.000-07:00

Assignment for Nov 2:

read chapter 4 and write a 500 word response. type.

that will be the 4th and last assignment for the first quarter.

begin reading chapter 7 for next week.

2009-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

assignment for october 16:

read excerpts of chapter 3 in "the rest is noise." (skip section 2, p.p. 84-92)

write a 500 word or so response to the music of stravinsky.

see me to download his music into your ipod.

the more you listen the more you'll understand.

due friday oct 16.

we will also cover chapters 4, 7, 11, and 14.

2009-09-30T05:49:00.000-07:00

for monday:

2 pages (typed) comparing mahler and struss. discuss specific pieces. if you need recordings, let me know. (bring me your ipod)

due monday!

2009-09-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

First Reading:
Chapter 1 in "The Rest is Noise" on Strauss and Mahler.
also download the iTunes playlist at www.therestisnoise.com/playlist
it may cost money....
writing assignment to follow.
mr. elliott

2009-09-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

Book List:

The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross

Hip Hop America by Nelson George

and something else to be determined.

2009-09-12T15:37:00.001-07:00

First Assignment:

500 words or so about the music you enjoyed over the summer.

Due Friday, September 18

2009-04-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

first assignment for fourth quarter:
compare two of the following record companies:
Atlantic Records
Chess Records
Motown Records
Stax Records

compare george's agruments about the differences between "independent" record companies and "major" record companies. what, if any, are the differences between the two?

assignment due by May 1.

2009-04-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

assignment for easter break:
begin reading "The Death of Rhythm and Blues" by Nelson George
there will be two papers due this quarter based on the book.

2009-04-08T07:06:00.001-07:00

assignment for easter break:
begin reading "The Death of Rhythm and Blues" by Nelson George.
there will be 2 papers due this quarter based on the book.

2009-04-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

assignment for easter break:
begin reading "The Death of Rhythm and Blues" by Nelson George.
there will be 2 papers due this quarter based on the book.

2009-04-08T07:03:00.003-07:00

assignment for easter break:
Begin reading "The Death of Rhythm and Blues" by Nelson George.
there will be 2 papers due this marking period on the material covered in the book.
one will be on a specific record company (motown, stax, atlantic, etc.) and the other will concern the current state of rhythm and blues music.

2009-04-08T07:03:00.002-07:00

2009-04-08T07:03:00.001-07:00

2009-04-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

2009-03-02T08:20:00.001-08:00

Third Quarter project:
Read "This is Your Brain on Music" by Daniel Levatin
write a 750 word paper summarizing the book:
1 - How does your brain process music?
2 - what areas of the brain process music and how are they related to those that process other forms of stimuli?
3 - How does the brain process unfamiliar sounds and how does this alter the way we perceive new forms of music.

construct your paper by summarizing levatin's arguments and then adding your own thought and interpretations.

due by the end of the quarter.

2009-01-11T16:14:00.001-08:00

final assignment for 2nd quarter:
type a short essay about your reaction to the first book and discuss one of cook's ideas as it applies to the music you listen to. i.e. gender, imaginary museum, research, etc...
due by the end of the quarter.

2008-12-18T05:15:00.000-08:00

next assignment due jan 7.
finish Music: A very short introduction by nicholas cook.
type a 500 word essay on one of the following:
Discuss how music is connected to non-musical ideas (philosophy, history, gender).
Analyze one of your favorite pieces of music from an historical/gender perspective.

2008-11-20T06:56:00.000-08:00

over break read chapters, 2,3,and 4 in Cook's Music: A very short introduction. then type a 500 word response to the following question:

What is Cook's idea of the "musical museum" and how does it apply to both classical music and pop? What is the role of the "imaginary object" in this museum?

Papers are due friday, dec 5.

2008-10-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

second paper:
due wednesday, nov. 5
read the first chapter of "Music: A Very Short Introduction" by Nicholas Cook.
Discuss Cook's definition of "authenticity." do you agree with his argument? What is cook's opinion? how does he support his argument?
papers should be at least 500 words. typed. double-spaced.

2008-09-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

hello all!
first assignment for the year:
500 words
typed.
review/describe an album you listened to this summer
or
review/describe a concert you went to this summer

supply as many details as possible
format your paper
etc.

due
friday 9/19

2008-04-28T07:22:00.000-07:00

4th quarter assignment:
from part four of the rock, pop, and soul reader
choose one of the following:
1) compare "punk" and "new wave" (articles 50,62,63,64,65)
2) compare the interviews between joni mitchell (52) with david bowie (58)
3) discuss 70's music by african americans (53,54,55)
4) discuss the evolution of heavy metal (56,57)

2008-04-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

Jazz concert!
we'll be doing another field trip on friday, may 9. we'll be seeing the joe lovano nonet at lincoln center at 7:30 on friday. we'll leave from the school. tickets are $15 with student id plus dinner (we eat at the club)(it's kinda pricey...figure on $30 for dinner and soda, although you could probably spend less if you want)
we'll be back late (midnightish) if we decide to stay for 2 sets (that's another $15)
figure on $50 for the night.
get back to me asap. i can only take 6-8 people.
mr. elliott

2008-03-31T05:23:00.000-07:00

last assignment for third quarter:
write a 2-3 page paper on one of the following topics. use as many articles from Parts 2 and 3 of Brackett's "Reader"
1) compare the Beach Boys career, chemistry and songwriting to the Beatles and other British Invasion groups.
2) describe the development of "soul" from early rock and blues through Motown.
3) describe the relationship between "pop" music and "authentic" music.

papers are due monday, april 7.

2008-03-01T14:42:00.002-08:00

assignment for the week of march 3:
read any two articles from section two of the rock, pop and soul reader, and write a short essay comparing them.
listen to examples of the music being discused.

2008-03-01T14:42:00.001-08:00

assignment for the week of march 3:
read any two articles from section two of the rock, pop and soul reader, and write a short essay comparing them.
listen to examples of the music being discused.

2008-02-10T13:21:00.001-08:00

Assignment for 3rd quarter:
in the rock pop and soul reader (see below), choose two articles from the first section, and write a short paper comparing them. include your own observations about the music and outside sources if necessary. papers are due on monday, feb 25.

2008-01-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

second quarter:
you should have turned in three papers on ives and copland for the second quarter.
next semester will be based on "the pop, rock and soul reader" by david brackett.
be sure to have a copy by next week.

2007-12-09T16:16:00.000-08:00

final assignment for December:
finish the book on Ives/Copland. Listen to all of the pieces on the CD AT LEAST TWICE!
read the author's essays on each of the pieces.
choose one piece by Ives and one by Copland, and compare them.
find additional sources for more info on the pieces themselves.
write a 3 page paper comparing and contrasting the two pieces. include at least one paragraph for each piece about your reaction to the music. Compare your reaction to that of the author.
format:
Introduction/thesis
Piece one - your analysis, author's analysis, historical information about the piece
Piece two - same as above
conclusion

assignments will be duy on monday, Dec. 17

2007-11-27T17:52:00.000-08:00

Turn in late Papers!!!!!!
let me know if you still want a seat at the opera!!!!
(there are 2 left)

2007-11-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

assignmet (see below for field trip...operas are awesome!)
on monday, nov 26. turn in a 500 word paper comparing Ives and Copland in one of the following ways:
1) relationship to politics and society
2) fame or recognition during lifetime
3) childhood and education

opera!
macbeth!
shakespeare!
january!
formal attire!
old rich people who don't know what they're hearing!
but we will!!!!
ha ha!

2007-11-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

FIELD TRIP!!!
we're going to see Macbeth at the metropolitan opera on saturday, january 5 at 8 pm. tickets are $45 and we have to move fast to get them. the opera is in three acts, and will be about 3 hours total time (with intermissions) that will make this a late night. we'll meet at the high school and take the train into manhattan, and then meet up back at the high school. if you are interested, you need to get money to me by thanksgiving break.....these things sell out fast.
juniors read this play in english class, so this will help with that as well.
operas are a formal thing, so if you have questions, ask me in school.
let me know.
mr. elliott

2007-11-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

assignment for monday, nov. 12
answer the following questions on the first section of the Ives/Copland book:
1) describe the contrasting personalities of Ives and Copland according to the author. you may need to look up some of teh adjectives on pp 2-3 of the first section. do you trust the author's opinion of the two men?
2) How should you listen to music? do you listen to music well? is listening to classical music the same as listening to pop/rock/hip-hop? Do you think that your are a good listener to musci (especially instrumental music with no lyrics)?
there is a copy of the book on reserve in the library. DO NOT TAKE IT OUT OF THE LIBRARY!!!!! READ IT THERE!

PICK UP PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENTS IN IMM. AUD!!!

2007-11-04T15:21:00.001-08:00

assignment for monday, nov. 5:
begin reading the Ives/Copland book (it's "real"...whatever that means)
the first written assignment will be due on friday.
if you do not have your own copy, mine will be in marist library starting tomorrow.
DO NOT TAKE THE BOOK OUT OF THE LIBRARY!!!
if you need to, read it there, and then leave it.
it comes with a cd.....listen to it a lot.
i'll post some more sound files by the two composers.

2007-11-04T15:21:00.000-08:00

2007-10-23T07:14:00.000-07:00

guys,
you HAVE to pick up your old papers in Imm. auditorium. if you don't you won't be able to edit and re-do assignments.
get late work in.
m. elliott

2007-10-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

assignment for monday, oct. 29:
PICK UP PAPERS THIS WEEK!!!
1) NONE OF YOU HAVE A CORRECT BIBLIOGRAPHY!! (look up how to do MLA format)
2) VERY few of you checked multiple sources.
3) This book, "An Incomplete..." is a hoax.
Find information on the book.

for monday:
1) turn in previous papers with correct bibliography and edited content.
2) write a 500 word essay on why you didn't notice that this book is fake. what does this say about history? who is the author? how is this different from a novel? how do you know what to believe?

HA HA HA!

2007-10-12T08:07:00.000-07:00

assignment for the week of oct 15 (due oct 19):
write a 3-5 page paper on one of the following composers:
Herr Hieronymous Gratchenleiss
Pierre Dubuisson
Charles Sudbury

include biographical information in addition to a brief analysis of the scores in the back of the book. include form, tempo, number of movements, key and other details in your description of the music itself.
include a bibliography listing AT LEAST 2 OTHER SOURCES. bibliogaphy should be in MLA style (look it up).

2007-09-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

assignment for the week of oct. 1:
1) read the foreward, introduction, and pages 1-40 in the Kriwaczek.
2) vocab assignment: write the word, its definition, copy the sentence from the book in which it is used (page number listed), and use it in a sentence of your own. (must be handwritten!)
words: niche (xi), ignominy (xiii), plebian (11), vernacular (11), decadence (17), propitious (22)
3) answer the following qusetions in in short essays (several complete sentences). grammar counts!
a) how did Rohan Kriwaczek become involved with teh guild of funerary violinists?
b) describe the format of a funerary violin performance? what did the performer do?
c) describe the life of George Babcotte.

assignments are due by tuesday, oct. 9!

2007-09-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

assignment for wednesday, sept. 26:
begin reading the kriwczek book. my copy is on reserve in marist library. your first assignment will be a vocabulary excercise based on the first 30 or so pages of the book.
you should plan to be that far by friday.
some of you are already late with papers. at this point i should have your first paper plus a second, corrected draft.

2007-09-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

title correction
"an incomplete history of the art of the funerary violin"
papers are graded and MUST be picked up, corrected, and turned in by thursday.
if you don't have a copy of the book yet, i'll put my copy in marist library during the day.
read during your free periods.

2007-09-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

assignment for monday, sept. 17:
begin reading "A short history of the art of the funerary violin" by rohan kriwaczk.
pick up your papers in imm. aud. tomorrow, and fix all corrections.

2007-09-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome back!
We will meet briefly after school on tuesday, sept 11 to discuss the year.
Your first assignment will be due on thursday, sept. 13.
Write a 500 word (or so) essay about the music you listened to this summer. This can include recordings or concerts.
All papers should be typed, 12 point font, and double spaced. Turn them in to Imm. auditorium.

Be sure to READ the syllabus you picked up.
We'll start reading the first book this week.
Here is a list of the books you need, if you didnt' get it:

Kriwaczek, Rohan: An Incomplete History of the Art of the Funerary Violin; Overlook Hardcover, 2007. ISBN#:1-58567-826-0

Felsenfeld, Daniel: Parallel Lives: Charles Ives and Aaron Copland, A Listener's Guide; Amadeus Press, 2004
ISBN#: 1-57467-098-0

Brackett, David: The Pop, Rock, and Soul Reader; Oxford Univ. Press, 2005. ISBN#: 0-19-15-51257-1

2007-06-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

Final papers should be turned in by friday.
they should be on a topic discussed in the Motown book by Early.
have a great summer!!
i'll post the books for next year here tomorrow.
-elliott

2007-05-06T17:51:00.000-07:00

assignment for the week of May 7:
read pp. 67 - 105

vocab: egalitarianism, pastoral, redoubtable, crucible, aplomb, vacuity, adumbrations, triptych, tantamount, acquiesce

discussion questions:
why was the midwesd different from the south and the northeast socailly and musically?
how are hendrix, davis and stone different from james brown and motown? (pp. 87 - 88)

2007-04-23T16:59:00.000-07:00

assignment for friday, april 27:

DRAFT of SECOND PAPER for the 4th quarter due FRIDAY!!!!

read pp. 34 - 65 in Early

vocab: oxymoron, perilous, rectitude, proffering, philistine, coalesced, acumen, scion, nepotism, epochal, melismatic, cholos, portentous

discussion questions:
what is Early's view of the black middle class and how does it differ from Amiri Baraka's? (blues people)
how did berry gordy jr. build his record company?...what were the lessons he learned from: boxing? Ford? Washington?

2007-04-18T17:46:00.000-07:00

assignment for monday, april 23:
read pp. 9 - 33 in "one nation under a groove" by gerald early

vocab: miscegenation, inchoate, paean, sybarite, egregious, status quo, imprimatur

discussion questions:
how are african americans and italian americans similar? (sinatra/davis)
how does ocean's 11 become a metaphor for popular culture and music?

2007-04-03T10:52:00.000-07:00

assignment for spring break:

finish reading the nisenson biography of coltrane.

for your first paper of the 4th quarter, listen to and analyze the "Olatunji Concert." Nisenson didn't know it existed and it is coltrane's last recorded performance, one month before he died from liver cancer. how does this recording contradict nisenson's speculation about where coltrane's music was headed?
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/olatunji1.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/olatunji2.mp3

we will then begin reading: "One Nation Under a Groove: Motown and American Culture" by Gerald Early.

2007-03-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

assignemnt for tuesday, march 27:
read pp. 182 - 195 in nisenson

vocab: allotment, catharsis, credulity, cantankerous,

discussion question:
how do you describe the playing of coltrane and sanders on "out of this world," and why do you think people thought they were angry?

www.hotcuprecords.com/music/world.mp3

2007-03-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

assignment for the weekend of march 24:

read pp. 157 - 182 in nisenson (part 2)

vocab: litmus test, paradigm, ensconced, vitriolic, ubiquitous, zeitgeist, masochism, posthumously, catharsis, sanguine,

discussion questions:
how did coltrane's philosophy differ from others' in the 1960's free jazz movement?

2007-03-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

we are nearing the end of the quarter. by next friday you need to have turned in:

3 papers (2 should already be in)
1 bibliography from you longer papers.
vocab

2007-03-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

assignment for tuesday, march 20:

read pp. 128 - 154 in nisenson

vocab: afford, exaserbated, militate, abhorrent, vacuous, blithe, acrimonious, adulation, panache, reticent, perilous

discussion question:
write a reflection paper on the 4 movements of "A Love Supreme." Refrence nisenson's analysis on pp. 151 - 154.
the 4 movements are contained in 3 files:
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/acknowledgement.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/resolution.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/pursuance_psalm.mp3

2007-03-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

assignment for wednesday, march 13:

read pp. 114 - 127

vocab: germane, stasis, conducive, nihilistic, preposterous, affront

discussion question:
what is your assessment of the addition of dolphy to the group? how does their approach fit their music? what is your opinion af the result?
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/india.mp3

2007-03-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

assignment for tuesday, march 13:

read pp. 101 - 114 in nisenson

vocab: nostalgia, audacity, emulate, prodigious, synchronicity, indubitably

discussion question:
how did coltrane incorporate ideas from african and indian culture into his music?....how was his music and philosophy already similar to these cultures?

2007-03-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

assignement for friday, march 9:

read pp. 90 - 101 in nisenson

vocab: aspersions, serendipity, cognescenti, atavistic, pantheon, cogent,

discussion question:
listen to "village blues" (discussed in the reading) how do the members of coltrane's band support him?
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/villageblues.mp3

listen to "my favorite things" (discussed in the reading) how does coltrane's treatment of this song differ from the original? how does his soprano playing differ from his tenor playing?
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/favoritethings.mp3

2007-03-06T14:59:00.000-08:00

assignment for wednesday, march 7:

read pp. 85 - 90 in nisenson

vocab: exigencies

same question as last post.

2007-03-04T16:02:00.000-08:00

oh....soundfiles for ornette coleman:
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/congeniality.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/peace.mp3

2007-03-04T15:30:00.000-08:00

assignment for monday, march 5:

A draft of your second paper is due on friday, march 9.

read pp. 76 - 85

vocab: inextricably, progenitor, unfettered, ostentatiously, prescient, pique, mercurial, epithet

discussion question:

Compare the music of Ornette Coleman to that of the previous examples of Miles and Trane...How is Coleman's approach different and how does it relate to Miles' "modal" music? (refer to Nisenson)

2007-02-28T17:23:00.000-08:00

assignment for thursday, march 1:

read pp. 60 - 75 in nisenson

vocab: introspection, overt, evinced, facetiously, vociferously, ofay, patina, manifesto, eviscerate

discussion questions:
does coltrane's music sound angry? how does his response on page 63 fit his music?

compare Miles Davis' Kind of Blue album with Trane's "Giant Steps" how does Coltrane's playing differ on these two records and why? what were the different approaches? (modal vs. vertical)
tracks from Kind of blue:
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/allblues.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/sowhat.mp3

tracks from Giant Steps:
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/giantsteps.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/countdown.mp3

2007-02-21T16:16:00.000-08:00

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR BREAK:
hopefully you're using this time to get caught up in your reading and paper writing.
when we get back, we'll move through the coltrane biography quickly.
start thinking about ideas for a final paper. any music-related topic is fair game.

2007-02-14T16:25:00.000-08:00

assignment for thursday, feb. 15:

read pp. 52 - 59 in nisenson

vocab: paradox, spontaneous, ubiquitious, labrynth, visceral, deride, catharsis, fascism, transcend

discussion question:
listen to "milestones" by the miles davis sextet and compare it to the earlier work of coltrane and the miles davis quintet.
how does the use of modes alter the way the performers play? (is cannonball (alto) doing the same thing as miles and train?)
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/milestones.mp3

2007-02-13T16:32:00.000-08:00

assignment for wednesday, feb. 14 (snow and valentine's day)

read pp. 43 - 52 in nisenson

vocab: eccentric, cache, prescience, profound, persevere, pathological, heretofore,

discussion question:
on pages 45-47, nisenson expresses regret at the fact that there were only 3 recorded tracks by the monk/trane quartet and a poorly recorded live bootleg......but, last year (2005) somebody stumbled upon an entire concert by the quartet recorded in fall of '57 at carnegie hall..!!!!!!!

compare nisenson's description of the quartet and the actual performance. what would nisenson say if he heard this recording?
i have posted 4 tracks from the concert:
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/bluemonk.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/nutty.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/evidence.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/byeya.mp3

2007-02-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

assignment for tuesday, feb. 13:

SEE BELOW FOR MISSED ASSIGNMENTS

read pp. 29 -42

vocab: burgeoning, taciturn, appellation, nascent, satyriasis, apotheosis, blanche, dogmatic, charisma

what is nisenson's opinion of the miles davis quintet (pp. 29 - 40), and what is your assessment of the group's music? (listen to the following tracks at www.hotcuprecords.com/music/roundmidnight.mp3 and www.hotcuprecords.com/music/ahleucha.mp3)

how does God enter coltrane's life and what does this tell us about coltrane's personality, character, and dedication?

2007-02-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

assigment for thursday, feb. 8:

GET CAUGHT UP!!!!

SEE BELOW

2007-02-06T14:46:00.000-08:00

assignment for wednesday, feb. 7:

SECOND DRAFTS OF PAPERS DUE FRIDAY!!!
FIRST SHORT PAPERS ON COLTRANE (JAN 31 POST BELOW) ARE LATE!!!
VOCAB DUE FRIDAY!!!!

read pp. 17 - 28 in nisenson

vocab: fervent, adulterated, prodigiously, endemic, febrile, incendiary, imbroglio, vortex, eccentric, vistas

NOTE:
this chapter is a bit of a chronicle of the state of jazz in the 1950's. i have posted music by some of the mentioned artists at the website.

sonny rollins with clifford brown: www.hotcuprecords.com/music/house.mp3
sonny rollins with max roach: www.hotcuprecords.com/music/surrey.mp3
thelonius monk: www.hotcuprecrods.com/music/dream.mp3

discussion questions:
compare the playing of miles davis and fats navarro. i have posted both of them playing on the same set of chord changes.
miles playing "half nelson" and fats playing "ladybird" are really the same song with different melodies.
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/halfnelson.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/ladybird.mp3

how does nisenson's opinion of "hard bop" differ from baraka's? (pp. 19-20 in nisenson, and pp. 216 - 220 in baraka)

2007-02-05T15:23:00.000-08:00

assignment for tuesday, feb 6:

RE-DO YOUR MIDTERM PAPERS
second drafts are due by friday, feb. 9....you MUST have a bibliography!!

your first papers for the new semester were due monday (see below)

read pp. 3-16 in nisenson

vocab: ineluctably, appropriate, acolyte, vociferiosly, serendipitous, ubiquitous, asceticism, fastidious, anathema, fulcrum, taciturn

2007-01-31T17:32:00.000-08:00

assignment for monday, feb. 5:
listen to the sound files posted:
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/halfnote.mp3
www.hotcuprecords.com/music/afroblue.mp3

these are two songs from the concert at the half note that nisenson talks about in the introduction and preface.

write a one page paper on your reaction to the music.
MAKE SURE YOU REALLY REALLY LISTEN, NOT WHILE YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING ELSE
what does this sound like to you?

2007-01-30T18:44:00.000-08:00

COME PICK UP YOUR RESEARCH PAPERS!!

They all need bibliographies. for friday i want a bibliography listing all sources alphabetically by author (MLA style)
go online and look up MLA style.

you should be finished with the Baraka by now. we're going to come back to the last chapter, so keep the book handy.
the next book is the Coltrane Biography by Nisenson. (see below)

for this week:
Read the acknowledgments, preface, and introduction to: Ascension: John Coltrane and his Quest by Eric Nisenson

vocab: hyperbole, hubris, apocalyptic

discussion question:
what is nisenson's opinion of john coltrane and how does it contrast with others'?

2007-01-25T11:40:00.000-08:00

just a heads up:
the next book we're reading is:
Ascension: John Coltrane and his Quest by Eric Nisenson

use the long weekend to finish Blues People by Baraka.
the last 30 pages or so tie directly into the Coltrane Biography.

2007-01-15T19:03:00.000-08:00

assignment for tuesday, jan. 16:

Rough draft of term paper due by friday!!!!!!!!!

read pp. 191 - 213 in baraka. (finish the book by friday)

vocab: hegemony, indelibly, coup de grace, covet, dubious, bucolic, kitsch, proclivities, ubiquitous, languid, tepid

discussion questions:
what are the similarities between: miles davis/dizzy gillespie, paul whiteman/stan kenton
how does language help to create a subculture? (pp. 200-202)
what does baraka argue on p. 200 about the function of music?

2007-01-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

assignment for thursday, jan 11:
read pp. 166 - 191 in Baraka (you should probably be finished with the book)

vocab: anathema, caricature, egalitarinism, sophistry, vertiginous, lugubrious, parochial

on p. 174, what is the relationship between vulgarity and authenticity or "the real"?
what was the origin of be-bop?
do white Americans still assimilate elements of negro speech? (p. 187)

2007-01-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

assignments for the new year!:
hopefully you have used the long break to catch up on previous work. as of now, i should have 3 papers by each of you in addition to vocab. starting next week you'll be working on one more long paper.
you'll each be writing a 3-5 page research paper on a topic i'll give you.
come by Immaculata next week to pick up a form for it. it'll be due 2 weeks from friday.

2006-12-14T06:40:00.000-08:00

assignment for thursday, dec. 14:
read pp. 147 - 165

vocab: inviolable, burlesque, overt, tacit, empirical, dilettante, autonomous, emulate, impetus, dubious, nurture, debilitate, fluency, scion

discussion questions:
how is the evolution of spirituals similar to that of big band jazz?
what is the role of tradition vs. that of progression or innovation? (top of p. 53)

2006-12-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

assignment for tuesday, dec. 12:
read pp. 142 - 147

vocab: correlative, assimilation, parochial, veritable, inviolable

discussion questions:
how did jazz spread around the country?
why does baraka think that creoles must have "hated" jazz?

2006-12-05T11:18:00.000-08:00

assignment for wednesday, dec. 6:

read pp. 138-142 in Baraka

vocab: architectonic, penchant, parvenu, concomitant

discussion questions:
how did jazz link the "extremes" of black society? (p. 141)
how does Baraka describe the origins of jazz?

2006-12-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

assignment for tuesday, dec. 5:

two papers should be finished at this point (both rough and final drafts)
rough draft of paper #3 is due by friday.

read pp. 127 - 138 in Baraka

vocab: analogous, microcosm, emulate, waned, milieu, menial, debase, bastion, intelligentsia, cleavage

discussion questions:
how did the different strata of african american society effect the development of their music?

2006-12-01T06:40:00.000-08:00

assignment for monday, dec. 4:
read pp. 122 - 127

vocab: secular, inception, liability, disrepute, quixotic, nurture, instilled, dogma, inculcation, ethos, antithesis, neophyte, imperative

discussion questions:
what was/is the black middle class? and what it it's strange position? (according to Baraka)
what were the different of strata in the black urban community and how did their music and culture differ?

2006-11-30T06:41:00.000-08:00

assignment for friday, dec. 1:
tenacious d time!
read pp. 111 - 121 in Baraka

vocab: vapid, nadir, stifling, philanthropist, avocation, aggrandizement, gratuitously, oblivion, disparity, strata

discussion questions:
what was the role of WWI on the development of american music?
how did boogie-woogie piano fit into the larger urban black culture? (food, dance, parties, etc.)
describe the importance of WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII on african americans and their music. (p 118)

2006-11-29T16:57:00.000-08:00

pick up graded work in the aud.
re-type all first drafts of papers...i'm not making suggestions on them for my health....make them better the second time.

sound flies

Baraka is talking about a lot of people in the current chapter, so i'm posting some of their tunes....
Blind Lemon Jefferson, "black snake moan" ...aam7.mp3
Bessie Smith, "St. louis blues" ...bs.mp3
Mamie Smith "crazy blues" ...ms.mp3
Pete Johnson and Albert Ammons "boogie woogie dream" boogie.mp3

2006-11-29T06:39:00.000-08:00

assignment for thursday, nov. 30:
read pp. 95 - 110

vocab: reassess, tenor, proselytize, altercation, debasing, cessation, euphemism, exploit, altruistic, crass, intent, lucrative, prognostication, aspire, paradox, acclimatization, subtle

discussion questions:
what is the importance of the two extensive quotes by James P. Johnson on p. 108 and Garvin Bushell on 109? Slang? Perspective?
How was the north a "new Jordan" or promised land? how did FOrd factor into this?
what were "race records" and how were they distributed and used?
how did southern blacks influence northern blues and jazz?

2006-11-28T16:32:00.000-08:00

UPCOMING FIELD TRIPS/INVITE
first, my band, Mostly Other People Do the Killing, is playing friday, dec. 15 at the bowery poetry club. it's $10 at the door, and i can't make it a field trip (first, cuz it's my show, second cuz i can't ride the train with you guys) but you should come out and bring your parents too....fun for all ages!?
second, i'd like to go to a ballet and an opera this winter:
Ballet: Feb 23, 8 PM (works by stravinsky including one of the all time greats, Firebird) tickets are $35
Opera: march 23 8 PM The Egyptian Helen by R. Strauss....he's the man when it comes to dark operas. tickets are $ 40

i'm working on some jazz stuff that isnt' me, but they don't plan as long in advance as the classical stuff.
we'll hit jazz at lincoln center in april.

2006-11-28T08:35:00.000-08:00

assignment for wednesday, nov. 29:
read pp. 86-94 in Baraka
TURN IN ROUGH DRAFT OF SECOND PAPER BY FRIDAY!!

vocab: artifact, florid, ecstatic, demeanor, bestowed, reverence, prestige, distaff

discussion questions:
what is the difference between early blues and "classic" blues?
what was the role of women in the development of "classic" blues?
how does Baraka's use of the term "authenticity" on p. 94 (line 6) differ from Cook's?
why does Baraka denounce "ragtime"? (p. 90)

2006-11-27T11:24:00.000-08:00

assignment for tuesday, nov 28:
read pp. 80-86 in Baraka

vocab: appropriation, avocation

discussion questions:
is there a method for "learning" blues? (p. 82)
is Baraka's interpretation of minstrel shows accurate? why or why not?

2006-11-22T06:46:00.000-08:00

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

many of you are falling behind in the work for this class. your grade is based on a great deal of work, and there are consequences to not putting in 6 or more hours a week.

the library has copies of the Cook and Baraka/Jones on reserve. during your free periods, go to the library to read the book and do work for the class.

i'll be posting a bunch of old recordings of blues and such on the www.hotcuprecords.com/music/XXXXX site later today. these may help you to write your papers in a more informed manner.

SOUND FILES ARE UP!!!
all are labeled "aam" for african american music. they are numbered 1-9 (example: www.hotcuprecords.com/music/aam1.mp3)
also, i put up a speech by Booker T. Washington (mentoned in chapter 3): .../music/btw.mp3

2006-11-22T06:32:00.000-08:00

assignment for Thanksgiving break:
read pp. 60-80 in Baraka
turn in vocab (week 3), any missed vocab, and draft fo second paper on monday.

vocab: lament, arduous, ebullient, paucity, chattel, extemporized, exploits, archetype, relegate, impetus, arbitrary, patently, cacophony, preclude, veracity, concomitant, quadrille, dirge, jovial, pastiche, aegis, amalgam

discussion questions:
how does the individual nature of the country blues contrast with the ensemble tradition of europe?
how did language effect the development of the blues? (p. 63)
how did the separation of the Negro from mainstream society effect the development of blues?
how does the end of the first paragraph on p. 68 (lines 14-20) apply to current "work" in American capitalist society and Hip-Hop culture?
is the origin of jazz vague? (p. 70)
how did New Orleans Creole culture alter the development of blues?

2006-11-16T09:15:00.000-08:00

assignment for monday, nov. 20:

re-write first papers and hand in a typed copy.

read pp. 52-60 in Baraka

vocab: perennial, post-bellum, antebellum, per capita, subterfuge

discussion questions:
what is meant by "blues is not...a social phenomenon..."?
how did Booker T. Washington's ideas change the south? what is Baraka's opinion of him?
what does Baraka mean on p. 55 when he says, "...the Negro's "place" in American society is the fact that it was only as a slave that he really had one."?
what traditions did african americans have to re-learn? (p. 56)
what is the "slave mentality?" (p. 59)

2006-11-15T06:30:00.000-08:00

assignment for thursday, nov. 16:

TURN IN DRAFTS OF PAPERS!!!

read pp. 47-49 in Baraka

vocab: semblance, paucity

discussion questions:
what is "devil music"?
what was the hierarchy of African American Society?

2006-11-14T06:49:00.000-08:00

assignment for wednesday, nov. 15:
read pp. 38-47 in Baraka

vocab: dogma, palliative, anthropomorphic, dictum, conscientious, idiosyncratic

discussion questions:
what were the effects of the spread of Christianity among slaves?
what is the relationship between slaves in America and the Jews of the Bible? how did these similarities and differences appear in music?
what is the significance of the quote at the top of page 41?
what is the significance of dance?
what are the origins of Negro spirituals?