Download repairing prosody assignment

Composers/Lyricists’ Lab - “Repairing Prosody”
Step 1 - Creating Song 1
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Composer: write an eight bar song which features a clear, regular downbeat. Label it “Song 1”
Lyricist: write rhyming lyrics which follow the composer’s notes and rhythm exactly; do not
change a single rhythm, do not add a single pick-up; do not use melismas. Label the result
“Lyrics for Song 1.”
Step 2 - Creating Song 2
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Lyricist: Write a second set of lyrics which follow the rhyme scheme and number of syllables
per line which you wrote for Song 1, with one alteration: change the kind of rhymes you use.
That is, if you used masculine rhymes in Song 1, then use feminine rhymes in Song 2; or if you
used feminine rhymes in Song 1, then use masculine rhymes in Song 2. Do not add or subtract
any syllables. If there are nine syllables in your first line in Song 1, then there must be nine
syllables in your first line in Song 2. Label the result: “Lyrics for Song 2.”
Composer: Write a new eight bar song to “Lyrics for Song 2.” Label this “Song 2”
Step 3 - Swapping Lyrics; Repairing Prosody Song 1
Swap lyrics. That is, insert lyrics from one song into the music from the other, and vice versa. Make
two copies of each of the resulting songs; give a copy of both songs to both lyricist and composer.
Label the result “Song 1 - Swapped Lyrics” and “Song 2 - Swapped Lyrics”
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Lyricist: Repair the prosody of Song 1 by altering the lyrics; do not change a single note of
music, and do not change the meaning of any of the words. Label the result: “Song 1 Swapped/Repaired Lyrics.”
Composer: Repair the prosody of Song 1 by altering the music; do not change a single
syllable; do not change the musical intention of any of the musical phrases. Label the result:
“Song 1 -- Swapped/Repaired Music”
Step 4 - Repairing Prosody Song 2
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Lyricist: Repair the prosody of Song 2 by altering the lyrics; do not change a single note of
music, and do not change the meaning of any of the words. Label the result: “Song 2 Swapped/Repaired Lyrics.”
Composer: Repair the prosody of Song 2 by altering the music; do not change a single
syllable; do not change the musical intention of any of the musical phrases. Label the result:
“Song 2 - Swapped/Repaired Music.”
Step 5 - Collaboration
Lyricist/Composer: Compare the resulting four songs, and rework any unsatisfying passages through
collaboration, altering both music and notes if necessary.