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.)