History of Notation

Step 2

Provide a brief description of this  Neume notation; observations, patterns, etc.

The Neume notation is mostly based on shapes and is largely on the notes coming before it and coming after it. For example, there are completely different notations for ascending eighth notes and descending eighth notes. In terms of shapes, the 9th and 10th century notes are lines and squiggles during the 11th and 13th century notes are based on blocks and squares. 

Describe differences between  Medieval Notation Neumes & Modern Notation Notes  used to make the same song in terms of shapes, lines and colors

The general shape of the notes going up and down the staff to signify pitch is the same between centuries. The general shape of a music note is the same except there doesn't seem to be any equivalent notation of the length of the notes (eighth, sixteenth, etc.). Also there is no color in modern notation but the medieval notation has red lyrics. 

Composition Presentation and Reflection

1. Describe the skills/knowledge you needed to complete this assignment that you learned/refined as a result of taking this class.

I really needed to understand how chords work to be able to write this composition, specifically how to fit parts into the chord to write a polyphonic sound and create interesting chord progressions. I also needed to know about non-harmonic tones, to make a composition that was interesting rhythmically but not dissonant. 

2. Describe the resource/information that was most helpful to completing this composition.

The information about major and minor keys from a past unit was most helpful so that I could figure out how to create chords around the minor key and not its major equivalent. Understanding minor keys and how they work was necessary for my composition.

3. How close was your final product in relation to your initial proposal? If things changed, why/how?

I met all things in my proposed composition except I wasn't able to fit a perfect cadences. Because I didn't have very clear sections and I wanted things to flow into each other, I didn't have clear cadences. Also because my composition kind of ended up being a mix of F# minor and A major, the chord progression wasn't as clearly defined as I would want. It floated in between the keys because it was mostly major but it started and ended on a minor chord. 

4. Comment on your time management for this project.

Considering that I am finishing this unit late, I would say that my time management hasn't been the best. However that was mostly because I spent most of the time working on the actual composition and not the written pieces around it. When I wanted a break on things I would open up the software and continuing working on it but I kept going back and forth with choices I made, meaning one day I would change a note and the next I would change it back. Because I wanted it to be perfect, my time management didn't end up being the best it could have been. 

5. What was the greatest benefit of your learning experience for this composition?

The greatest benefit of the experience of this composition was having a vision for the skeleton of this project and then slowly filling in the gaps. For this project I got to be creative but I had to be very specific with what I wanted. Using prior learning, in this case music theory learning, combined with setting out to meet a goal was beneficial for me as a learner. 

6. What was the greatest challenge of your learning experience for this composition?

My greatest challenge was trying to keep coming up with new melodies that didn't compromise the rest of the composition. Bridging the gap between two sections was very difficult for me because I wanted there to be something else happening but there was still a main line I wanted to come through, and everything I wrote in that section ended up ruining the main line, so I settled with long notes. 

7. Were there any aspects of your outcome that were surprising or unexpected?

The major/minor key dilemma was something that surprised me because I had set out to write a song in a minor key but I quickly found that my instincts and my ear were compelling me to write with major chords, especially to achieve the inspirational feeling I wanted. 

8. How would you approach the compositional process differently if you had another opportunity to learn in this manner?

If I had to, I would plan out the chord progressions first and then write melodies around that. For this composition, I really focused on melodies and where my ear wanted the melodies to go and built the chords around that which means that some of it feels like it's wandering. I would also try to make it more structured because I really wanted to be flexible and follow my creativity but I'm not satisfied with the structure of the composition in terms of an ABA format. 

9. Describe the kind of composition you would pursue if given another opportunity to do so.

If I had another opportunity to write a composition, I think that I would try to write something more light with different instrumentation. I would write something that centered around a major key that was faster and maybe a little celebratory. For that I might use a marimba or maybe experiment with other forms of percussion, which I know nothing about.