Baroque Ornamentation – Fall 2009

Baroque Ornamentation

MUS 480/MUS 580

Dr. Mary Kay Bauer

Room 462 Coulter

mkbauer@email.wcu.edu

828-227-3275 (office)

828-231-0004 (cell)

 

Course Objective:  After taking Baroque Ornamentation students will:

1.  Have a detailed background of the historical and sociological facts of the 17th in music.

2.  Have knowledge of the major treatise on ornamentation from that period.

3.  Have knowledge of what ornaments are prevalent for the voice and how to use them.

4.  Have several performance experiences using this knowledge.

 

Literature Requirements:

 

All students will sing/perform a simple song in either English or Italian (to be assigned).

Undergraduate students will sing two other songs in any language.  Efforts should be taken to include recitative whenever possible.

Graduate students will sing 4 songs in any language.  Graduate students are required to include a lengthy recitative with this literature.

 

Written Requirements:

 

All students will submit a written document which describes the method by which their ornaments were chosen.  This is a short document submitted per selection performed.  These short papers are due within a reasonable length of time from the assignment of this literature.

 

In addition to the above, graduate students will submit a research paper on a topic of their choice.  This paper should be no less than 10 pages in length and include citations and bibliography in MLA style.  This paper should be submitted according to the following time table:

October 6 –  submit a proposal (1 side of paper)  N.B.  We do not have class that day.  But the proposal should be submitted anyway.

November 17  – final paper due

 

 

 

 

 

Listening:

Listening is one of the greatest tools you will have to understand and master Baroque Ornamentation.  You are also required to do listening on your own.  There are three dates throughout the semester where you are required to bring outstanding examples of Baroque singing to class.   Details will be forthcoming.

 

Grade determinants:

 

A                All performances were excellent

All written work was on time and exceptional

Listening was well chosen

Class preparation/participation was excellent

 

B                All performances were good

All written work was on time and done well

Listening was interesting

Class preparation/participation was good

 

C                Some performances were good

Some written work was late, but all good

Listening was incomplete

Class preparation/participation slack

 

D                Performances were ill – prepared

Written work was poorly done

Listening was not done

Class preparation/Participation slack