History of the Polyphonic Mass

Take-home Final Exam

Due Friday, 6 May 2005

A) Short questions

Choose three articles from the list below and briefly summarize their central arguments, methods, and kinds of evidence adduced. (About 1 to 2  pages)

1)      Gary Towne, “Music and Liturgy in Sixteenth-Century Italy: The Bergamo Organ Book and its Liturgical Implications,” JM vi (1988)

2)      James H. Moore, “Venezia Favorita da Maria: Music for the Madonna Nicopeia and Santa Maria della Salute,” JAMS xxxvii (1984)

3)      Lynn Halpern Ward, “The Motetti Missales Repertory Reconsidered,” JAMS xxxix (1986)

4)      Michael Long, “Symbol and Ritual in Josquin’s Missa di Dadi,” JAMS xlii (1989)

B) Essays

Choose two of the following topics, and develop a well-constructed argument around each based on the course readings and scores—these are not meant to be research papers, but “exam essays” in the true sense (no footnotes, use references within the text, no extra materials beyond the reading list, etc.  About 3-5 pages each; please be as specific as possible in using examples from the actual repertory).

5)      Discuss the arguments that have emerged surrounding the terms “parody” and “ad immitationem” in 15^th- and 16^th-century masses.

6)      Discuss the changes that take place in mass composition between 1600 and 1700 in Italy and elsewhere.

7)      Discuss the use of instrumental music (both solo and ensemble) in the masses of the 16^th and early 17^th century.