Essays and Research Papers on Music

This 5 page report discusses Charlie “Yardbird” Parker and Miles Davis who were (and still are), inarguably, two of the greatest performers, composers, and innovators that the American jazz world has ever experienced. Charlie Parker and his alto saxophone are considered hallmarks of the original bebop, even though the music he played repeatedly demonstrated that this was a musician following ...

(7 pp). Bootlegged booze, flappers, installment buying, the Model A, get- rich-quick schemes and 'The Great Gatsby' - for some, the 1920s was a great party. But the decade was also a time of swift economic change, technological innovation, and a rapid rise in standards of living. Bibliography lists 7 sources. ...

4 pages in length. Topic is strictly on the definition and interesting aspects of the Motet, the name for one of many unique and wonderful kinds of musical composition of the 13th century and for a different type that originated in the Renaissance. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

This 5 page paper provides an overview of Verdi's operas and the times in which he wrote them. Aida, La Traviata, and Don Carlo are compared and contrasted. Bibliography lists 7 sources.

A 10 page research paper that, first of all, defines the different types of overtures that were written in the 19th century and then looks at some representative work by Beethoven Mendelssohn and Wagner. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 9 page paper discussing the structure of the first movement. The paper discusses the structure of the Exposition, Development and Recapitulation and the devices Beethoven used to move between sections so skillfully that transitions are not discernible to the untrained ear. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

8 pages in length. The writer discusses the musical structure of Petrushka's four tableaus. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

7 pages in length. The cultural convergence of hip-hop and rhythm & blues that occurred throughout the 1990s gave rise to a blending of sounds that had heretofore been considered distinctly opposite. This fusion of sound and style was responsible for establishing a strong connection between black expression and the ongoing quest for ...

5 pages in length. Sometimes the simplest questions are the most telling, as BP Fallon found out in his interview with the musical group U2. His article entitled "One But Not The Same" delves deep into the psyche of Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam, the four primary players who have made U2 a ...

A 12 page book review which considers the book's chronicle of 14 important performers who are frequently overlooked in popular jazz texts. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

A 5 page paper which compares Toni Morrison's novel "Jazz" with Louis Armstrong's song "Black and Blue." No additional sources cited.

7 pages in length. The writer discusses historical background, placement, general analysis and personal thoughts as they relate to Handel's "Messiah." Bibliography lists 8 sources.

This 6 page paper provides and overview of Jazz trumpeters who came after Armstrong. His influence on them is explored. The musicians detailed are Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, Jon Faddis and Dizzy Gillespie. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

A 5 page research paper that offer a comprehensive analysis of the last two movements in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony – i.e. the third and fourth movements of this masterpiece. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

Tchaikovsky and Ballet Theater: This 8-page analytical essay examines the life and contributions of Russian composer, Peter Tchaikovsky. It explores the evocative qualities that have made his compositions immortal favorites. In addition, definitive reasons in support of his invaluable contributions to Ballet Theater are provided. Bibliography lists 5 sources. SNBallet.doc

5 pages in length. Mass media represent different things to different people. For some, the aspect of television means the epitome of rest and relaxation; for others, print media such as magazines and newspapers reflect a combination of entertainment and current events; while still others relate to music as though it were another ...

Jim Morrison – Still Hasn’t Left the Building: This 6-page explicative essay details the musical contributions of Doors’ lead singer, Jim Morrison. In addition, his poetry, influences and lasting legacy is examined. Reported to have died in Paris in 1971, by some estimates Morrison is even more famous today. Bibliography lists ...

A 12 page research paper on music appreciation that focuses on the role of the orchestra. The writer argues that the orchestra is the "palette" that serious composers draw upon to create their art. Bibliography lists 9 sources.

Ricky and the Red Freaks: This 6-page essay discusses the hypothetical situation relevant to Ricky, the lead singer of a famous rock band leaving the band and joining another. Issues pertinent to his performing in the same town and on the same night as his original band’s pre-scheduled concert are also examined. Bibliography lists 9 ...

An 8 page research paper that examines sonatas by Haydn and Mozart as examples of the classical period. The writer offers a general overview of the style of each composer and the influence that each had on the other. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page research paper that contrasts and compares Beethoven's Piano Sonatas Op. 27 No. 1 and Op. 27 No. 2 (The Moonlight Sonata). The writer discusses these two works in the context of the classical and romantic periods. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 5 page research paper that in which the writer argues that Bizet's Carmen deserved the designation of "realistic," and then discusses several film versions of the story. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 5 page analysis of Roy Orbison's hit song "Oh, Pretty Woman" (aka "Pretty Woman). The writer offers a detailed musical analysis looking at such elements as melody, harmony and structure. Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 7 page report discusses musical composer and rock musician Frank Zappa (1940-1993). Far too often, Zappa’s work has been relegated to an example of the obscure creative energy exemplified in the 1960s. And yet the reality is that Zappa’s work was far more closely aligned to the established traditions of the avant garde in Europe. This report pays particular attention ...

A 10 page paper which examines the world of Berry Gordy, Detroit, and Motown during the 1950s and the 1960s. The paper makes use of the books "Dancing in the Street: Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit" by Suzanne E. Smith, "New American Ghetto" by Camelia Vegara, and "Urban Crisis" by Thomas Sugrue. Bibliography lists 6 additional sources. ...