Essays and Research Papers on Music

A 7 page research paper that offers a detailed analysis of this cantata. This is one of Bach's best known and most beautiful cantatas. The writer, drawing on Machlis (1970), takes the cantata section by section, offering description and interpretation. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page research paper that discusses Bach's Inventions, in general, and then offers specifically an analysis of Invention 11 in G minor. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 3 page paper which examines Kate Chopin's short story "The Story of an Hour" and discusses it in relationship to the song "These Are Days You'll Remember" by Natalie Merchant. No additional sources cited.

An 8 page research paper that, first of all, examines the history of the fantasia and what scholars have said about this particular type of composition. This background is necessary in order to understand the literature on this topic. The emphasis of this research will then focus on the work of Beethoven in his genre, ...

A 4 page paper on Renaissance love songs. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 4 page paper discusses women composers of the Renaissance (there are very few), and mentions the trobairitz who also seem to have enjoyed success in the Middle Ages. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 10 page paper examines three blues genres: classic blues, country blues and acoustic urban blues. Each is discussed separately and then compared and contrasted. Social components as well as musical differences are established. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 6 page research paper that discusses three pieces from Debussy's works for piano, Images II. The writer first examines the nature of each piece and then discusses the proper technique for playing Debussy. The pieces are Cloches a travers les feuilles; Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut; and Poissons d'or. Bibliography ...

A 7 page paper which examines the artist, the album and individual tracks, the musical genre, and considers whether or not the album functions as a cohesive whole. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 6 page paper which analyzes the song’s lyrics and the shocking event that inspired them, the massacre of four Kent State college students protesting the Vietnam War. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

4 pages in length. The writer briefly annotates four sources – 1 book, 1 journal, 1 magazine and 1 Web site – as they relate to the impact Elvis had upon American culture. No additional sources cited.

A 3 page essay that summaries and analyzes the song "Oklahoma" from the musical Oklahoma! by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. The writer discusses this song's harmony in detail and how it fits with the lyrics. (Only this one song, "Oklahoma," is discussed). Bibliography lists 2 sources.

An 8 page research paper that closely examines this work by Rachmaninoff. The writer first offers an extensive biographical section that puts the composition of this concerto within the historical context of Rachmaninoff's other works and his life. Then the concerto is discussed in detail. The last section of the paper compares the degree of ...

A 3 page research paper that briefly examines four compositions: two by Beethoven and two by Mozart. Musical analysis is offered for one part of each work. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This 8 page paper discusses the reasons why historians and musicologists have both consistently labeled Beethoven as a revolutionary. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 6 page paper which discusses and examines the keyboard instruments of Johann Sebastian Bach. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 3 page research paper that briefly discusses the rock opera Tommy by The Who and Billy Budd by Benjamin Britten. The writer discusses the plots and the motivation of the composers in their particular eras. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 3 page paper discusses two of Petrarch's songs and compares them with a love song of today. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 3 page essay that discusses in detail a musical analysis of the first movement of Tchiakovsky's first symphony. Only the first movement is discussed. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 3 page research paper and analysis on music from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical, referring specifically to the film. In the 1940s, the musical team of Rogers and Hammerstein redefined the Broadway musical. In their hands, the songs in musical became more than simply excuses for production numbers or musical interludes, but rather ...

A 3 page paper on the recent Broadway production, “Mamma Mia.” Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 5 page concert report that discusses the selections played. The writer focuses particularly on Daphnis and Chloe by Maurice Ravel. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 5 page concert review that discusses the writer's impressions of four works on the program. The works discussed include Bruckner's Seventh Symphony in E major; Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major; and Chopin's Sonata in B minor and his Barcarolle, opus 60. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page essay that discusses the lyrics to this Marley classic. The writer offers a brief biographical introduction and then explicates the meaning of the lyrics and their relevance. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 15 page research paper that offers musical analysis of Oliver Messiaen's most famous work, Quatuor pour la fin du Temps (Quartet for the End of Time). This report particularly focuses on the sixth movement of this eight-movement quartet, which is quite distinctive rhythmically and exemplifies Messiaen's treatment of rhythm. The writer argues that the ...