CQUniversity Unit Profile.

You will undertake a history and listening test based on the unit materials presented on the Moodle site during the term. The test will consist of the identification of works from a listening list and will contain short-answer responses related to the history of the artists and musical periods studied, from the Elements of Jazz to the Bebop Revolution.

Students are assessed on the accuracy of their responses to questions presented in the in-class quiz. This assessment item tests students' knowledge of influential artists of this period, aural awareness of artists and ensembles, historical, musical and stylistic characteristics and major historical events (musical and non-musical) of this period.

For this assessment task, you are required to write a 2500-word* written assignment. In completing this task, choose one of the following topics.

Topic 1
The Count Basie Orchestra were very influential in defining the rhythm section sound. Discuss the individual members of the All-American Rhythm Section (Count Basie, Freddie Green, Walter Page and Papa Joe Jones) and the contribution each of these musicians made to the development of the big band rhythm section. Provide appropriate score samples and URL's for an annotated playlist of audio tracks or excerpts to support your research.

Topic 2
The Duke Ellington Orchestra were one the most important bands in the history of jazz. Discuss the significance of this group, focusing on three (3) key musicians* of the ensemble and their contribution. Include a brief biographical introduction to Duke Ellington and an in-depth discussion of the four (4) periods** of his compositional and arranging practices. Provide appropriate score samples and URL's for an annotated playlist of audio tracks or excerpts to support your research.

* Other than Duke Ellington, discuss the contribution of three key players from this list: Cootie Williams, Barney Bigard, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Cat Anderson, Juan Tizol, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton or Jimmy Blanton.
** The four periods of Ellington's compositional history you must discuss are: "Jungle Sounds Era", "Mood Era, "Concerto Era" and the "Blanton-Webster Era".

Topic 3
Miles Davis (or groups led by Davis) recorded several albums that stand out in the history of jazz as ‘seminal recordings’. The following albums are acknowledged as pioneering developments of new jazz sub-styles and are heralded as some of the most influential jazz recordings ever produced.

• Cool Jazz: ‘Birth of the Cool’ ushered in a transition towards a bebop influenced, yet ‘cool’ sounding jazz.
• Modal Jazz: ‘Kind of Blue’ steered jazz away from the frenetic sounds of bebop and complex chord progressions, towards a simpler, modal based music.

Choose one (1) sub-style from those provided (above) and discuss the significance of this recording by providing the following:

• A brief biographical introduction to Miles Davis
• A historic overview of the chosen sub-style (Cool Jazz, Modal Jazz or Fusion), including an analysis of the musical, social and political influences
• A summary of the performance practises associated with the chosen sub-style (instrumentation, size of ensemble, common performance elements etc.)
• Background information on the associated album (Birth of the Cool, Kind of Blue or Bitches Brew). Such information may include the recording process, composer/arranger information and any important contributions from artists who recorded on the album
• Using an original recording from Youtube, provide a musical analysis of the individual song associated with each recording in a timestamp/musical description format. The recordings are (Birth of the Cool: Boplicity or Kind of Blue: So What). Provide appropriate score samples and URL's for an annotated playlist of audio tracks or excerpts to support your research.

Assignment presentation:• Include your name, student number and chosen topic
• Must use 12 point Times New Roman font
• Must use 1.5 spacing for the body of the assignment
• You may use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly
• You may refer to Youtube clips to demonstrate aspects of your discussion and reference appropriately
• Include in-text references
• Include a comprehensive reference list, adhering to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide
• All excerpts from URLs for music scores or recorded audio/video examples should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the reference list.
• Submit Microsoft Word (.docx) documents only.

*The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.

• Appropriate introduction and conclusion - 5%
• Accuracy of biographical history of the artist - 15%
• Precise and relevant account of the development of the musical sub-style and identification of contributing social and political influences - 10%
• Accuracy in the identification and discussion of the sub-style specific performance practises - 15%
• Accuracy and depth of research of the chosen album and associated artists - 15%
• Accuracy of musical analysis of the chosen recording - 15%
• Grammatical accuracy, punctuation, spelling and general presentation - 10%
• Correct use of academic referencing conventions - 10%
• Evidence of wide reading - 5%

You will undertake a history and listening test based on the unit materials presented on the Moodle site during the term. The test will consist of the identification of works from a listening list and will contain short-answer responses related to the history of the artists and musical periods studied, from Cool Jazz to Jazz-Rock Fusion.

Students are assessed on the accuracy of their responses to questions presented in the in-class test. This assessment item tests students' knowledge of influential artists of this period, aural awareness of artists and ensembles, historical, musical and stylistic characteristics and major historical events (musical and non-musical) of this period.