Theory 2A/Fall 2017

ESSAY ASSIGNMENT ON THE OPENING SECTION OF DOVE SONO

Due Thursday, October 12
This assignment will be turned in for a regular grade at the beginning of class on the due date.
You must complete this assignment on your own except for help from the instructor.

How is the climax of mm. 118 of Mozarts Dove sono created? That is, which
musical features contribute to the creation of this point of maximum tension, and
how do they do so?

Answer the question above with a brief essay of approximately one printed page that

contains at least two paragraphs. Use complete sentences only. Like this paragraph, your

text will be double-spaced using 12-point Times New Roman and standard margins.

Start by listening several more times to the excerpt with the score distributed in class. A sound
file of the entire aria is available on Canvas along with these instructions. Analyze mm. 118
more closely with the question above in mind. Then, compose your essay. Read it aloud to make
sure that it is error-free and clearly written.

YOUR ANSWER MUST CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

Name of the pitch that you hear as the climax.
Number of the measure in which the climax occurs.
Name of the form of mm. 118 and the segment of the form in which the climax occurs.
Names or descriptions of musical features that contribute to the sense of climax along with
explanations describing how the features create the climax. To identify the features
responsible, study the excerpts harmony, melody, rhythm, and motivic material closely.
Do NOT gather or include information from other authors, including from books and online
sources. All observations and ideas must be your own, except for those discussed in class.
Optional issues to address: (1) Which word of the text is emphasized by the climax, and why
is this important to the meaning of the text in these bars? (See the translations of individual
words on the back of the score.) (2) Listen to the entire aria. When mm. 118 return, they
undergo modification. How is the climax treated?

TO WRITE A GOOD ESSAY:

Assume that you are writing for a classmate in Theory 2A who knows music theory as well as
you do. In your essay, do not define terms that this classmate would know.
Begin with one or two sentences that state the composer and name of the aria and summarize
your answer to the question. For example: The climax of mm. 118 of Mozarts aria Dove
sono occurs in m. ___. The (name most important features) create this sense of climax by
(summarize what the features do).
Name pitches, harmonies, beats, durations, and measure numbers frequently to help make
your essay easy for your reader to follow. Except at the beginning of a sentence, use an
abbreviation to cite specific measures: m. for a single measure (e.g., m. 14) and mm. for
two or more measures (e.g., mm. 714). If Measure or Measures is the first word of a
sentence, spell it in full.
Because the entire essay reflects your thoughts, do not use In my opinion, I think, or
similar space-wasting expressions.
Optional: Include a copy of the score on which you circle and label items that you discuss in
your essay. You may print out another copy of the score from Canvas.