CD-12

Instructions: Please read all of the following information carefully:

Create a new folder on your “My Documents on daisy” student folder, call it “lastname_CD.” All of the work for this CD will be saved into this folder and the folder will be submitted for grading. Download the file called "CD_Cover_Template.PSD" and save it into your Lastname_CD folder. Open this file in Photoshop.

This CD is a “mini project” which will allow you to demonstrate all of the skills that you have learned over the year. It is primarily a “Graphic Design Process” exercise, but please make sure to incorporate as much of your learning as you can into the project:

• Filters • Blending Options • Fills
• Layer Blends • Attach Text to Path • Cutting Objects from Backgrounds
• Shapes • Strokes • Image Adjustments
• Patterns • Gradients • Transformations

In addition, I would like to see evidence of the various Visual Communications exercises which we did this year, as well as some of the “History of Graphic Design” problems completed this semester.

THE MINI-PROJECT:

You are a graphic designer and you have been given the opportunity to create the CD graphics for a new album. Before you get started, you should review the following information regarding your album:

Genre: Classical
Artist: Yo-Yo Ma
Album Title: "Vivaldi's Cello"
Short Review:

The great Yo-Yo Ma has recently (in addition to his world music explorations) moved to the baroque cello, a so-called period instrument, and his transition has been remarkably smooth. He is indeed a musical polyglot, and this CD finds him solidly in the heart of the Baroque period, with music by Vivaldi.

In addition to three concerti the composer wrote for cello, there are some fascinating transcriptions. The Largo violin solo from the "Winter" concerto of the Four Seasons is here beautifully played on cello, its darker tone added substituting gravity for chill in the wintry landscape. A concerto originally for viola d'amore, lute and strings has been transformed into one for cello, organ, strings and continuo, with Baroque expert Ton Koopman as transposer and organist (and sympathetic, energetic conductor throughout). And oddest of all, Koopman has created cello solos out of arias (one of which is helped by a perky bassoon) originally composed for female voice from a couple of operas, the oratorio Juditha Triumphans, and the familiar "Laudamus te" from the famous "Gloria."

Leave it to these musicians to re-invent Vivaldi with respect and a clear ear for musical values--not to mention sheer entertainment and a forward propulsion which makes it all so invigorating. --Robert Levine
Sound clips from your album:

-Clip #1: Concerto for Viola d'amore, Lute and Orchestra, RV 540/III. Allegro

-Clip #2: Laudamus Te from Gloria, RV 589
Song Listing:

1. Concerto in G minor for 2 Cellos, Strings and Basso continuo, RV 531/I. Allegro
2. Concerto in G minor for 2 Cellos, Strings and Basso continuo, RV 531/II. Largo
3. Concerto in G minor for 2 Cellos, Strings and Basso continuo, RV 531/III. Allegro
4. II. Largo from "Winter", Op. 8, No. 4, RV 297 from the Four Seasons
5. Concerto in B-flat Major for Cello, Strings and Basso continuo, RV 423/I. Allegro
6. Concerto in B-flat Major for Cello, Strings and Basso continuo, RV 423/II. Largo
7. Concerto in B-flat Major for Cello, Strings and Basso continuo, RV 423/III. Allegro
8. Così sugl' occhi miei from La Fida Ninfa, RV 714
9. Concerto for Viola d'amore, Lute and Orchestra, RV 540/I. Allegro
10. Concerto for Viola d'amore, Lute and Orchestra, RV 540/II. Largo
11. Concerto for Viola d'amore, Lute and Orchestra, RV 540/III. Allegro
12. La gloria del mio sangue from Il Giustino, RV 717
13. Concerto in C minor for Cello, Strings and Basso continuo, RV 401/I. Allegro non molto 14. Concerto in C minor for Cello, Strings and Basso continuo, RV 401/II. Adagio
15. Concerto in C minor for Cello, Strings and Basso continuo, RV 401/III. Allegro ma non molto
16. Noli, ò cara, te adorantis from Juditha Triumphans, RV 644
17. Laudamus Te from Gloria, RV 589
18. Quanto magis generosa from Juditha Triumphans, RV 644
19. Dite oihmè from La Fida Ninfa, RV 714
Production Company: ©2004, Sony Records

 

NOTE: I HIGHLY recommend that you do not look up the actual graphics of this album, or if you are familiar with the album, put the graphics out of your mind, as preconceived notions will make this assignment MORE difficult, not easier.

To start, download this template file for your CD graphics and save it in to your “lastname_CD” folder. You will be creating your CD cover on this Photoshop file.

You will be creating the following for your CD graphics:
1. A nice typographic representation of the Group or Artist’s name, as well as a typographic representation of the title of the Album (these SHOULD NOT look the same!) Create these two graphics on separate files and copy them into your CD project when needed. Please save these two files as .JPGs into your “lastname_CD” folder.
2. Graphics for the front cover of the CD (and possibly continuing onto the back cover, as well) which fit the mood and theme of the Album. This is where much of your Graphic talent with Photoshop will come in. Use your blending, cutout and filter skills here! Feel free to get images from the Internet, as needed, to bring about your graphic. Remember, the Template is the outside border of your CD, do not go over it!
3. Text for the spine of the CD which includes the Group or Artist’s Name and the title of the CD.
4. Graphics for the back of the CD which follow a similar theme to the CD. On the back of the album, you will include the Song Listing.
5. Include the production company information on the back of the CD as well.
6. Place your Artist and CD Title graphics onto the cover of your CD as you see fit to enhance the look of the work.

When you have completed your design, please save the work as a .JPG file and place it into your “lastname_CD” folder. Using “My Computer,” COPY your “lastname_CD” folder to the class drop box on the M: Drive. (If necessary, see highlandtechnology.org FAQ page regarding this step)