D8-e: Writing conventions
D8-eBecome familiar with writing conventions in music.
Musicians and musicologists agree on several conventions when they write.
- Musical compositions are known and categorized by detailed or specialized titles. For example, Beethoven’s fifth symphony is Symphony no. 5 in C Minor, op. 67 (op. is the abbreviation for opus, or “work”).
- Musicians and musicologists use a specialized vocabulary from music theory and history. Often that vocabulary includes words in Italian, German, or French. For example, movements of a symphony are known by their technical terms, such as the adagio section or the allegro movement.
- In reflective writing, the first-person pronoun I is acceptable. In a music review, it should be used sparingly so the review remains fair and analytical and does not seem to be merely a statement of personal taste. The first person can be used in grant proposals but not in press releases, program notes, or research papers in music.
- Writers use past tense to describe past events such as a composer’s life or a performance. They use present tense when reviewing a recording or analyzing a work of music (for example, In Nickel Creek’s new song, the mandolin plays variations on an old folk tune). (See G2-f.)
- Music writers use the active voice and active verbs to keep their writing lively and engaging. (See W3.)