Russian Music: Identity, Power, and Spectacle

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

From the imperial courts of the Tsars to the rigid censors of the Soviet era, Russian music has been a battleground for national identity. This interdisciplinary course explores how that identity translated into sound and spectacle in symphonies, operas, and ballets composed between 1783 and 1953. Focusing on one major work weekly, students will analyze source materials, libretti, and music, cultivating an ear for the unique musical language and storytelling of major Russian composers while situating works within the politics of feudal and communist cultures. Students will select a concentration in Music Analysis, Music History, or Russian History and Literature, with assignments tailored to their specific area of study. Ability to read music is helpful but not required.