focus on a living composer writing in the classical music tradition

Let’s choose Ellen Taafe Zwilic.

Assignment: Biography and Musical Analysis of a Living Composer

In this assignment, you will be tasked with researching and writing an essay on the life and work of a living composer writing in the Classical tradition.

Your essay must:

• Focus on a living composer writing in the Classical music tradition.
• Discuss his or her background, musical and historical influences.
• Analyze one of his or her pieces of music in depth. The analysis of the composition you choose should be organized around how the composer uses the elements of music in his or her piece.
• Be at least four-pages and consistently follow MLA format (double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font, one-inch margins all around the page, formal citations for all sources used).

For example, you could write on the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rauavaara, and focus on his Symphony #7, Angel of Light; or Ellen Taafe Zwilich and focus on her Concerto Grosso, 1985.

These two composers are just examples; you are free to choose others. You may begin your search wherever you’d like, but these sites are a good place to get started (just remember you’re looking for a living composer).

• American Composers Alliance
• The Living Composers Project

Please save your assignment as a Word document (.doc) and upload it by clicking on the Browse My Computer button.