RHYTHM COMPOSITION PROJECT
Due Tuesday, February 19
Rough Draft Due Tues, Feb. 19, 10:40 a.m.
Final Draft Due Tues, Feb. 26, 10:40 a.m.
On music manuscript paper, write in pencil a composition with the following features:
- three staves each system, clefs on all the staves, and team members’
names next to each
- write a time signature of your choice at the beginning
- refer to the poem you have been assigned; select a passage between
50-100 words long
- write a rhythm for those words, with the notes on the second line
from the bottom
- use at least 4 different note values (whole, half, quarter, eighth,
sixteenth, dot, tie, triplet)
- write the words underneath the rhythms
- students must be able to speak the words of the poem in the rhythm
written
- put on it your names and date of the composition
- make a (dark) photocopy of your rough draft to hand in for comments
on February 19
- make three photocopies of the final draft and bring them to class
on February 26 (enough for you and your teammates, and one for the professor).
Method:
Collaborating with your teammates, create a cohesive composition to
be performed as a trio. Each member should have a roughly equal role
in the creation and performance of the work.
The compositions will be graded on the basis of creativity, originality, proper notation of rhythms, beats adding up in every measure, adherence to the required features, participation of each member, and the performance of the composition.
On Tuesday, February 26, we will take class time to perform everyone’s composition, in groups of three students. (Please rehearse in advance with your teammates.)
Tips:
- first determine which are the accented syllables or most important
words, and place these on downbeats and accented beats
- talk through each phrase of the poem and notate its natural declamation
- assign one note value for every syllable
- make sure the rhythmic values in each measure add up
- try not to have note values and beams that cross primary beats, especially
in compound rhythm
- using rests, provide places to breathe at the ends of each phrase
of text
- look for ways to provide variety, drama, surprise, and interest
- explore ways for the different voices to interact (repetition, stretto,
hocket, texture)
Be creative and have fun!
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