Final Paper
due 4/21

Write a five page paper describing in depth some topic from the required readings. You might focus on the work of a specific composer, or an approach to music making, or a technological development, or an idea about the role or function of music. You should use Folsom Library’s music and media collections to explore other writings and music which relate to your topic. Your paper will be due before the lecture, April 21, and should address the following things:

1) Clearly define what you are writing about. Is it something you like, or something you dislike? What is the larger thesis of the paper?

2) Describe the work you are writing about. Describe it in detail. Make reference to writings and music beyond the limits of the required materials for the class. What do other people have to say about the work? Does it generate controversy? If so, what are the arguments presented by the different sides of the controversy?

3) Are there non-musical aspects to your topic which are relevant? Technical issues? Aesthetic issues? Spiritual issues? Political issues? If so, discuss them.

4) Finally, give us a summary of the material you’ve covered. Is there something you can say about the place of this person or music or idea in the context of computer music as we’ve studied it in this class? How about in the musical world outside of the class? Make sure that any conclusions you include are supported
by what you’ve told us in the rest of the paper. If not, go back and figure out what’s missing. Is there some assumption or fact or issue of personal taste that you’ve left out of your discussion?

5) Include a bibliography of books and other media which you used in your research and referenced in your paper. Be sure to properly footnote quotes. While the web is an incredibly valuable resource for this kind of research, it should not be your ONLY source. Use the holdings of Folsom Library and other local libraries.
Your bibliography should not just be a list of web sites.

Some suggestions for topics include: Pluderphonics, the history of electronic music, electronic music performance, Serialism, the math of music, sound synthesis techniques, telepresent music performance, aleatoric music, Acoustic Ecology, deep listening, recording technology, compositional strategies, hardware hacking, sound art, sound installations, and many more.

You will not be allowed to write soley about these subjects: illegal downloading, mp3 players, John Cage, or your favorite pop music. Please keep in mind that this is an academic class and you are being encouraged to learn about new ideas and works.