Examining the "Musical Present"

3.0 credits

This course is designed to provide a solid grasp of twentieth-century European and American art music by offering both broad coverage of significant works and in-depth examination of the era's diverse musical trends, social and political environments, and aesthetic and cultural controversies. Students are expected to contribute to class discussion, engage closely with musical scores, listen attentively to pieces, and write sensitively about compositional details as well as music's multiple roles in contemporary culture. Major graded work includes a midterm, final, and a paper that combines analysis and interpretation.