MUSC 615
TWENTIETH CENTURY MUSIC
Catalog Entry
MUSC615. Twentieth Century Music
Three Hours Lecture (3).
Pre- or corequisite: MUSC601
Significant developments in form and style of the music of the 20th Century. Offered every third year.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
I. Introductory Concepts
A. Historical context
B. Tonality crisis
C. State of musical processes
D. Change in musical style
II. Impressionism and Related Developments
A. Debussy
B. Ravel
C. Satie
III. Schoenberg and his followers
A. Schoenberg
l. Post-Romantic works
2. Freely atonal works
3. Twelve-tone works
B. Berg
1. Link to past
C. Webern
1. Pre-figures future
IV. Stravinsky
A. Russian period
B. Neo-Classical period
C. Twelve-Tone period
V. Bartok
A. Early neo-national works
B. Middle works: Synthesis
C. Later works
VI. Hindemith
A. Position as teacher, theorist, and composer
B. Relate theories to works
VII. Avant-garde
A. The ultra-rational
B. The anti-rational
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The course is a combination of lecture and in class discussion of major works of the period.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to discuss important musical developments which transpired during the 20th-century. In addition, when encountering music composed during this period the student will understand the musical language, and historical context in which the music was composed. Therefore a greater appreciation and understanding of the artistic intent will be evident in the student.
Assessment Measures
The main assessment tools are listening tests and written tests. In addition, there is a research project that deals with a specific work or small part of the period.
Other Course Information
Approval and Subsequent Reviews
DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
August 2001 Edited E. Fellin, Chairman