Final Paper Guidelines (Fall 2021)
In an essay of at least three pages, double-spaced with a 12-point font, present and defend a
clearly articulated thesis regarding the cultural significance and meaning of a musical work in the
classical tradition. The essay should examine one of the following works:
- W. A. Mozart – Don Giovanni or Requiem
- Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 5
- Aaron Copland – Appalachian Spring
- Peter Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake or The Nutcracker
- Igor Stravinsky – The Rite of Spring
Additional research about the work and its composer outside of the textbook will be necessary to
complete this assignment. Wikipedia does not count as a scholarly source.
The essay should be organized around a central thesis that is clearly stated in the introduction.
The essay should integrate the following issues and material into the development of this thesis:
Identify a cultural theme or value exemplified by the work you have chosen and link this theme
(or cultural value) to the sociopolitical context in which the work was produced. Why is this
theme (or value) of relevance to the production of this work?
Who composed the work? Describe at least three important aspects of this composer’s social and
cultural environment that shaped his or her professional life.
To what period in music history does this work belong? Define at least three important aspects of
the musical style of this period. In broad terms, how does this work reflect the cultural, aesthetic,
and/or political values of this period?
What is the genre of the work (i.e. opera, cantata, program symphony, etc.)? What are the basic
characteristics and historical background of this genre? What kinds of expectations might
audience members have had when encountering a new work in this genre?
Select at least one movement or extended section of the work and describe its distinctive
stylistic, dramatic, and/or formal aspects as they relate to the cultural and aesthetic values of the
period.
A helpful way to approach a thesis statement in music appreciation is to think about the paper as
explaining one of two things: - What does this piece of music tell us about the time and place it was created?
- How does understanding the time and place this music was created help us understand the
music itself better?
Sample Solution
