Writing a program note
What is a program note?
A program note is an informative essay which is written for an interested
but uninformed concert audience. In a program note a composition is
discussed within the framework of an historical, cultural and musical
context. Sometimes it really makes sense to relate the composition to the
composer’s private circumstances, artistic development, personality, etc.
A program note also gives a description (or an explanation) of the
composition itself. The writer is free to combine his or her own ideas with
the factual information which he/she derives from different sources. A
program note is written in an objective and accessible style, which
means that the first form should be avoided and that musical terms have
to been explained in everyday language.
How to set up your work?
Start listening and reading the score:
1. Start listening ‘blindfold’ to the composition, note your first listening
experiences.
2. Download the score (if possible)
3. Listen again while reading the score. Add some more notes.
Searching reliable information and mentioning your sources:
Derive your information from at least three different reliable sources.
Reliable sources can be found in the CvA library and in the digital
databases which are accessible through MyAHK. Login on MyAHK, click
on the dashboard symbol on the right top, click on Bibliotheek
(catalogus), click on Databases, click on Muziek in the left yellow margin.
From there you can find access to the Grove Music Online (worldwide
the most used music encyclopedia), The Oxford History of Western
Music (which I strongly recommend), J-STOR (scientific articles),
Petrucci (scores), etc. Be careful with older program notes which you’ll
probably find on the internet! Be aware that these texts are mostly based
on recycled information, often including mistakes…
1) You may start searching for general information in Wikipedia, but
check this always, if possible, in The Grove online (or another up to
date Music encyclopedia in your own language.)
2) Look for historical and cultural context information in among others
A History of Western Music (Russano Hanning) The Oxford History
of Music online (Taruskin) or any other books on Music/Culture
History in the library or on MyAHK online:
3) Look for detailed information in biographies in the library and
articles through J-STOR (but don’t use the reviews!)
4) Note all the details of each publication for your bibliographical list.
Note the numbers of the pages where you’ve found text fragments
which you may quote in your own essay. You’ll need this
information for your footnotes!
End references and Footnotes
- Mention all your sources in your end references (bibliography) in
the complete Chicago style, like this:
Russano Hanning, Barbara. 1998, ed. 2014. Concise History of
Western Music. New York, London: W.W. Norton & Company.
(That is: name author, year of first edition, year of used edition, place
of publication, name publisher)
- Footnotes (in-text references) are required in case of quotations.
Put your quotation always between ‘quotation-marks’, and add the
footnote in short style, like this (see below): 1
NB:
Digital texts in the Grove or the Oxford History of Music make use of a
cite button on the right top of the article. This cite button gives the full
reference in different styles. Choose the Chicago style.
Writing process:
- Keep in mind that you’re writing for an interested but uninformed
concert audience, so avoid musical terms;
- Choose a title and make a clear paragraph construction (probably
with small titles);
- All information which you discuss should be connected to the
composition;
- ‘Recycle’ and paraphrase the information you’ve found, try to
combine this with your own listening experiences and ideas, but
avoid the first person form;
- citations between quotation marks require a footnote (short style);
- All sources should be mentioned complete in your end
references/bibliography (but avoid website links!);
- be consistent in your style;
- Always use your spell check!
1 Russano Hanning 2014, p. 630 (This is just an example)
- Edit your final text while reading it aloud;
- Make a nice lay-out, use one font;
- Submit your text as a Word or PDF-file;
- Submit your text on time!
Please notice that plagiarism is a serious offence! That’s why you’re
obliged to sign the Non Plagiarism Statement. Without this signed
contract, I’m not able to give your essay an official grade.
We make use of plagiarism checks; cases of plagiarism will be reported.
Good luck with your work!
