How to structure a musicology essay

Task: discuss the emotional portrayal within a piece (example) I Just Can’t Wait To Be King from the Lion
King.

Introduction  Introduce audience into the topic or perhaps a quote from a critic about
the musical
 Basic information about the musical elements/ emotional portrayal
Introducing the within music and/or musical theatre
reader into the  State position/ hypothesis
reason for the  MENTION HERE: musical name/ piece/ composer of the work to be
essay and the analysed (in italics)
content  State how the hypothesis will be achieved ‘by consideration of the
following musical elements; … ‘ (LIST THEM IN THE ORDER HERE THAT
[Consider it a THEY APPEAR IN THE ESSAY)
signpost]

Paragraph 2  The history of emotion in music/ musical theatre

 [Quote sources here about musical theatre and or emotion in music]
Helping to provide
an overall context

Paragraph 3  Background on the musical/ composer

 Context to the piece and musical
Helping to provide
a musical context VERY SMALL ELEMENT

Body 1/2/3/4/5  New paragraph per musical element using the following formula (or
similar)

Text  Quote about the importance of [insert musical element here] in musical
theatre to help evoke emotion in the listener
Texture  Formula: statement about piece (synthesis), show evidence to back up
claim & evaluate (bar number or track reference) [do this as many times
Instrumentation as you believe necessary or to back up your claims] (Perhaps 3-4?)
and Timbre  Don’t forget you can also refer to examples from class to help back up
your claims
Pitch and Melody  Don’t forget to show evaluation (why? How come?) and synthesis
(what?)
Expressive Devices  Link back to hypothesis
 Link the current element to the next element

EXAMPLE (Text paragraph):

Similar to emotion in spoken language, vocal music relies upon the innate ability
of the human species to decipher these signals (Scherer, K; 1995). However the
use and importance of text can assist performers in conveying emotion. In the
piece I Just Can’t Wait to Be King the use of text over varied characters assists in
creating the overall emotion of Zaru’s anxious nature juxtaposed with the
carefree attitude of Nala and Simba. This is most evident in bars 19 & 20 where
Zazu interjects with the words ‘Now when I said that’ in response to Simba’s
bright and playful ‘No one saying “do this”. Zazu and Simba continue to
 squabble through the song, this is highly evident when Simba states ‘standing in
the spotlight’ to which Zazu responds ‘Not yet!’ (bars 46-47). The use of
punctuation and yelling assist in portraying the angry sentiment of Zazu. In
addition to this it can be seen that the effective use of text can be seen extends to
the use of an ensemble. The ensemble refers back to the text already mentioned
by Zazu (bars 47 – 53). The use of the phrase ‘Let’s hear it in the herd and on the
wing’ (bars 49 - 53) refers to Zazu’s line ‘This child is getting wildly out of wing!’
(bars 35 – 37). The use of the word ‘wing’ in both excerpts helps evoke the
feeling of conviction and makes reference to the members of the tribe
attempting to convince Zazu that change and a new king will be good. In
addition to text, texture is effectively manipulated to help portray the
composer’s intended emotional response.

Conclusion  Do not introduce any new concepts

 Clearly state the song title and musical name
To conclude the  Clearly state the hypothesis and … briefly explain why the manipulation
essay, the real of the musical elements (which ones?) was effective
essence of the
entire writing

Additional notes:

Have a creative (and relative title)

Reference list for any references used
Include a recording [mp3 or YouTube] and/ or score (with bars numbered) for submission