World Music Assignment and Overview

For this assignment, you will be assigned a fragment of world music from a different culture which you
will listen to, respond to, and describe using correct musical terminology. You will then research the
culture/society/country of your assigned music, select the two most important aspects from this
culture, and describe how they have affected the culture’s music. You will then present your findings
from Section 2 to the class. For this assignment, you will need to:
● Listen to your assigned world music fragment
● Research the culture/society/country that the music comes from
● Complete the charts for Sections 1a, 1b and 2 based on the criteria described in each section

○ Section 1a: Your Initial Reaction

■ Log on to Google Classroom and listen to your assigned world music fragment
■ Answer the questions in the chart for Section 1a based on your immediate
reactions to the music
○ Section 1b: Listening for the Elements of Music
■ Listen to the mp3 again and, in complete sentences, use correct musical
terminology to describe the music in the chart provided. Record a response for
each musical element in the chart. (Listen to the recording as many times as
necessary)
○ Section 2: Information about the Culture/Society/Country
■ After learning where your music comes from, research the culture and look for
important characteristics that have helped define the culture as a whole
■ Select the two most important characteristics from this culture and describe
how they have played a role in the development of its music
■ Find a YouTube performance of the music that can be shared with the class
during your presentation

Curriculum Expectations

B1.1 listen to selections that represent a variety of musical styles and genres, and identify and reflect on their
Section 1a personal responses to them.

B1.2 identify and explain the use of elements and other components of music in a variety of selections, including
Section 1b their performance repertoire.

B2.1 identify and describe ways in which traditional music reflects the society in which it was created and how it
Section 2 has affected communities or culture.

Students will do a brief presentation about a unique world music. Their presentation will contain the following
elements:
 Section 1a – Your Initial Reaction
Have this document open, log into our google classroom and listen to your assigned .mp3 track. You will be
writing down your thoughts and feelings based on your first time listening to the song.

Questions Response (Please use complete sentences)

1. What emotions/feelings
does this performance
invoke? What is your
initial reaction?
(Fear, excitement, joy, happiness,
laughter, confusion, anger etc.)

2. What part of the song

caused this reaction?
(The timbres, the dynamics, the
lyrics etc)

3. What do you think is the

purpose of this song?

4. In what setting do you

think this song would be
performed?
(i.e. I think this is a religious song
that would be performed during a
wedding ceremony)

5. Where (geographically)
do you think this music is
from and what made
you think it was from
this area?
 Section 1b – Listening for the Elements of Music

Element of Word Bank Description (Please use complete sentences)

Music Use correct music terminology

Melody Are the intervals chromatic, by

step, or by leap? Is the melody
performed by one
instrument/voice the whole
time, or does it change
throughout the piece? Is the
melody in a major or a minor
/2 key?

Harmonies Is the melody performed in

unison, or are there multiple
pitches moving together? How
many different
voices/instruments are in
/2 harmony?

Texture How many different

instruments/’sounds do you
hear? How many of each
instrument/sound? Does it
have a thin, medium or thick
/2 texture?

Timbres Describe each

sound/instrument that you
heart: Bright, dark, rough,
cold, warm, piercing, metallic
etc.. (i.e. The first instrument
has a raw, piercing metallic
sound. It sounds like some
sort of stringed instrument
/2 being hit by a stick or mallet.)

Dynamics How loud or soft is the piece?

Does it remain the same
dynamic level for the entire
performance, or are there
moments of contrast? Are
certain instruments/voices
louder than others? Describe
these aspects using: piano,
/2 mezzo-piano, forte, etc.

Tempo How fast or slow is the piece?

How would you describe it
using tempo markings? (I.e.
Largo, allegro, andante,
/2 presto, etc.)
 Section 2 - Information about the Culture/Society/Country

After researching the culture/society/country that your music came from, please select two
aspects/characteristics of that culture that you think had the greatest impact on your world music.

Potential aspects that had the greatest impact on the music:: Religion
Economic, class struggle
Political
Gender roles
Professions
Climate/physical environment
Historical
Influences from other cultures

Aspect Description
Use complete sentences. A successful answer in this section will:
1. Clearly describe the the aspect/characteristic. Tell us a brief
background about the aspect.
/1

2. Explain in a convincing way how it was one of the most important

factors that helped shape your world music.
/2

#1:

#2: