Music Analysis Worksheet

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.Berthold Auerbach

Title
Composer
Year
Performer
Date
Instrument(s)
Historical/Contextual Details (events/trends/philosophies at time of creation, intended
purpose, genre, tradition, composer's personal life, inspirations, definitions, etc.):
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What do you know about the culture or society for which this piece was composed?:
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Background Sources (lecture, program notes, cd cover etc.): ________________________
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First Listen

What elements do you notice first? ___________________________________________

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How does the work make you feel? __________________________________________
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Closer Listen

Texture: What is the overall texture of the music? (Loud, soft, smooth, grating, pleasing,
clunky, etc.?) Be as descriptive as you can: _____________________________________
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Form: Does the music follow a traditional form or pattern, or break from one? Which
elements are repeated in the piece? Is there an emphasis on certain feelings, moods, or
themes? ________________________________________________________________
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Rhythm: What do you notice about the rhythms or pacing of the piece? How do those
influence you as listener? ___________________________________________________
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Harmony: Is the music harmonious or not? Are there several parts that work together?
How do the instruments work together? What is the overall effect? __________________
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Melody: Where does the melody of the piece fall? Is the piece a major or minor one?
What images or feelings does the melody evoke in you? ___________________________
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Dynamics: What elements of the music are receiving the most emphasis, and how do
dynamics work with that? Are there any moments of complete silence? How do the
dynamics work with the meaning of the piece? __________________________________
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Connections

Pick elements from the music that you find the most interesting or perplexing. What do you
associate with these elements? List your associations below.
Element

Associations

Starting Your Analysis

Using your notes from above, consider the following prompts as a start to your analysis:

What is the composer's purpose? Is there an agenda, message, or a theme in their

music?
What are the roles of certain elements in the work (e.g. instruments, solos, dynamics,
melody, rhythm)?
Does the composer use symbols in the music? What are they? What do they mean?
What is influencing the music (e.g. social ideologies, historical events, personal life)?
Is the composer trying to do something new in the genre/time period? What is he
or she trying to change?
How does the music compare to other music of the same composer, genre, theme,
etc.? What is the same? What is different? What can you infer from these
similarities/dissimilarities about the music or the composer(s)?
Was the music written for a specific purpose, and does it fulfill that?