MUSC 615
TWENTIETH CENTURY MUSIC

1. 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.

2. 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

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course is a combination of lecture and in class discussion of major works of the period.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Other Course Information
7. Approval and Subsequent Reviews

DATE ACTION REVIEWED BY
August 2001 Edited E. Fellin, Chairman