Math/Music: Structure and Form

Homework Assignment #2

Due Friday, October 7, START of Class


Homework should be turned in at the BEGINNING OF CLASS. You are certainly encouraged to work on assignments with other classmates, although the solutions you turn in should be YOUR OWN WORK AND WRITING. Please cite any references (websites, Internet, other texts, etc.) that you may have used for assistance with the assignment.

Note: Please list the names of any students or faculty you worked with on the assignment.


Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.
Ludwig van Beethoven

  1. Listen to the CD Math and Music 2: Tonality and the Evolution of Polyphony, available on Moodle. Liner notes for the CD are available here or on Moodle. You may be tested on some of this music so be sure to read the liner notes and listen carefully. One approach to effectively absorbing the music is to make brief notes about each piece, listing significant details as you listen.

  2. Read and complete the circled exercises 1 - 3, 5, 7, 8, 12 - 15 in Chapter 4 of The Music Kit, 2nd ed., Workbook, Tom Manoff (handout from class on 9/28.) You are encouraged to play those exercises asking to be played. It's important to hear the notes on the page. There's a piano in Mulledy basement -- use it!

  3. Read and complete the circled exercises 1, 3, 5 - 9, 11, 13 (part 2 and 4 only), 14, 15 in Chapter 5 of The Music Kit, 2nd ed., Workbook, Tom Manoff (handout from class on 10/3.) As with Chapter 4, you are encouraged to play (or sing!) those exercises asking to be played. The music for the famous Ode to Joy (question #11, part 2) is on the back of the handout.

  4. On music staff paper, write out an ascending chromatic scale (one octave) using sharps in both the treble clef and the bass clef beginning on the note G. Looking at the resulting set of notes, which two letter names are used only once?

  5. Write out an ascending whole tone scale (one octave) using flats in both the treble clef and the bass clef beginning on the note B flat.

  6. Write out an ascending natural F sharp minor scale (one octave) using only sharps in the treble clef.

  7. Write out an ascending harmonic F minor scale (one octave) using only flats in the bass clef.

  8. Notate all the intervals (include major, minor and perfect designations) between successive notes in the first 8 bars of Dona nobis pacem (Ch. 5 of The Music Kit, question #13, part 2). Be sure to indicate intervals between measures as well. You may do this on the Ch. 5 handout or if you would like more space, you can copy it over onto your own staff paper.