Prompt

We learned about Absolute music by examining Johannes Brahms.  For our lecture video, you listened to a performance with no extra ideas (story, poem, life lessons) in mind.  

For this assignment, journal your experience listening to the Absolute music from the Brahms chapter versus the program music from the rest of the Romantic era (e.g. Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Nights Dream, Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, etc.).

You do not need to go into musical fundamentals from our toolbox. Rather, step back and examine your experience listening to Brahms’ piece with no story vs. one of our programmatic pieces. Did it differ? Do you have a preference on Absolute vs. Programmatic music?

Guidelines

To receive a complete grade, submit:

•  an academically honest response (I want your unique experience- there is no right or wrong here!)
• a response that addresses the journaling prompt in the instructions