Music in the Age of Revolution: 1750–1900

3.0 credits

The nineteenth century was an era marked by profound violence, disruption, and political change. Wars raged constantly, empires expanded and contracted through colonization and revolt, and new conflicts and ideas put issues of class and power on center stage. At the same time, this era saw the emergence of unprecedented beauty in works of art, new ideas about the self and identity, and innovations in technology from medicine to musical instruments. Against this backdrop, we will explore what it meant to be a composer and make music in a range of national and political contexts. Through the study of recordings, scores, source readings, and interdisciplinary materials, we will gain a deeper understanding of diverse musical cultures around the world in the nineteenth century and how they continue to shape our musical lives today.