Welcome to Understanding Music!
The course is a selective chronological survey of Western Art Music. We will learn basic concepts, terms, and principles of design in music, and use them to understand selected works of representative composers from the Middle Ages to the present. Emphasis is placed on attentive listening, responses to real-time performances, analysis of works, and formally written responses to secondary sources. The course hopes to instill intelligent listening habits and the ability to recognize different forms and styles. Previous musical experience is helpful but not required. Because of COVID-19, all of our mandatory group interaction will be online, but there will be opportunities to meet individually, whether online or in person, should it be necessary to clarify any aspect of the instruction.
In this course, students become “knowledgeable listeners” by:
- Learning, recognizing, and physically performing essential aspects of rhythm, melody, and harmony;
- identifying orchestral instruments by sight and sound;
- understanding and recognizing chronology and style;
- internalizing and communicating structural and aesthetic concepts using proper music terminology;
- engaging and responding to selected secondary sources;
- understanding the relationship between music styles and parallel developments in history, art, and literature;
- attending performances and writing reports that appropriately describe the pieces on the program as well as assess the quality of the performances.
- Docente: Martin Kutnowski