Presents the historical unfolding of the major achievements of music in Western culture from Gregorian Chant to the 20th century. A study of selected master works or Western art music in a historical context from Gregorian Chant through Johann Sebastian Bach. Emphasis is on musical understanding through critical listening, score study, and lectures. Traces the history of musical style from the late 18th century to the present, through a close study of representative works, in the context of leading artistic and intellectual trends. Introduces students to the development of the symphony from its origins to the present.
Students study individual symphonic compositions from both historical and analytical viewpoints.
Topics covered include changes in instrumentation, harmony, formal design, as well as the changing place of the genre in concert life. Examines the life of one or more major figures in Western art music. The content of the course changes, but emphasizes music in its historical and cultural contexts, as well as individual genres and styles. A continuation and further in-depth study of the musical giants from the romantic period to the 20th century. Will study the lives and compositions of the great composers of this time, within the context of their living standards, personal circumstances, and political ideologies.