Introduction to Anglo-American Folk Music

Assignments

In addition to four 2-3 page response papers to live performances (one of which has to be a purely instrumental performance), students will be expected to trace variations in a single ballad and write a 5-7 page paper about its literary qualities. This paper will be returned graded, and then resubmitted in revised form. They will also be asked to write a 5-7 page paper on a particular artist or genre of fiddle music. Short listening quizzes will help students focus on particular artists, styles, and genres. Each week a different student will choose our “song of the week” from Our Singing Country, or Slave Songs of the United States, or Child’s Popular Ballads, volume one. The last week of the semester, students will be expected to perform a fiddle tune, ballad, or song the student has learned, or else present a piece of music that he or she has collected.