Introduction to Music and the Supernatural

3 credits · Undergraduate

How do composers and performers push the boundaries of music to respond to supernatural themes or to create the impression that their music is itself supernatural? How does engagement with the supernatural reflect real-world concerns? This course explores the musical supernatural and the ways in which it intersects with four main themes: virtuosity, ingenuity, identity, and technology. The music under consideration includes Western art music, popular music, and film music.