OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this project is to allow you to discuss your understanding of the issues surrounding such matters as the growing complexity of modern art music, the subsequent reaction against highly dissonant and other challenging forms of modern music, and the ultimate question of how the audience relates (or not) to serious music since 1900. Note especially that this project is not a piece of "original" research; rather, it is more of a "response" paper that demonstrates your knowledge and understanding of one particular essay and any other related information that you have acquired in this semester.

GENERAL METHOD: In outline, you will:

1. Read Milton Babbitt's "Who Cares if You Listen?" (Item # 5 in Morgan, The Twentieth Century),
2. identify any additional, related commentary or historical events or trends that support a point related to Babbitt's essay, and
3. write a brief, formal paper based on your readings and considersations of the topic.

LIMITS: You must deal clearly with Babbitt's essay, but you might also include:

• historical events or works that concern the relationship of composer and audience, e.g. government control or censorship of specific musical works or musicans and its (potential) effect on audiences,
• criticial writings by anyone about music and its suitability (or not) for certain purposes or audiences, e.g., commentary on either tonal or other kinds of music,
• examples of music adapted to encourage or discourage audience acceptance, e.g., the inclusion of "popular" styles in serious music, or
• any other examples of how the issues discussed by Babbitt have been faced (or ignored) by composers, performers, concert promoters, critics, etc., since the early years of the twentieth century.

In general, you should draw on concrete, i.e., real events, people, works, etc. Do not simply invent hypothetical examples. If your ideas have merit, there should be a genuine example that you can use to make your point.

Do not consider this paper to be an all-encompassing assignment that covers all possible points. Rather, at best, you should develop 1-2 good examples that shows how the issues Babbitt raises came into play somewhere in the last 100 years.

Because this is an "open-ended" paper, you may begin immediately. No topics need be approved by me, but do feel free to ask questions about potential examples, points of argument, etc.

THE FINAL DOCUMENT: (1) This paper must be typed or computer-printed on 8-½" x 11" white paper, with 1" margins on all sides, except for the first page of text, which has a 2" top margin. (2) Use a 12-point typeface, type in double-space, and indent all paragraphs. (3) The absolute minimum length of the body of the paper, i.e., not including the title page, bibliography and notes (either as footnotes or end notes), is 750 words (about 3-4 pages) for Undergraduates [MUH 4371] and 1,000 words (about 4-5 pages) for Graduate Students [MUH 5375]. You may write more with no concern for penalties. ("Word Count" under "Tools" in most word-processor programs gives this information.) (4) You must footnote all direct citations, paraphrases and other appropriations of ideas from your sources. (5) Append a bibliography of any items used after the last page of text. You need not create a title page, but you should include your name, course number & title at the top of the first page.

Electronic submission of this assignment by means of email attachment is required and expected.

• Final Paper: due by 5:00 pm on Friday, 3 December 2010. (the last Friday of the semester.)
• Undergraduates [MUH 4371] are reminded that this project counts for 10% of your course grade.
• Graduate Students [MUH 5375] are reminded that this project counts for 15% of your course grade.