MUH 3011: Twentieth Century Music

This seminar will proceed in a series of units, each with specified readings, listening assignments, and class work. The assigned research paper will be based upon a topic of student interest concerning the various styles of twentieth-century music. Each unit will entail some shorter written or in-class work, and the assigned readings are mandatory. The examinations will be drawn primarily from the reading and class material. Throughout the semester, students will use the Internet to identify and research materials available online. The computer component of the course is mandatory and will be expected as an integral part of student research.

This is an advanced course and requires the following prerequisite courses: Survey of Western Music I-II and Music Theory courses through Comprehensive Musicianship II (through Comprehensive Musicianship IV is recommended). It is also writing intensive and will require a major term paper. 

Listening will be emphasized throughout the course; all pieces are available on line in a format playable on the Windows Media Player.  Note, there will be various short listening quizzes, both independently and combined with the mid term examination. This does not preclude the possibility of spot quizzes, too. The final examination will be a cumulative listening examination, covering all the listening material from the course.

Registered students can access on line materials with Manhattanville's Blackboard site: http://blackboard.mville.edu

Course Outline and Reading Assignments

Required Texts: Glen Watkins. Soundings: Music in the Twentieth Century. (New York, 1988).

Highly Recommended: Mark A. Radice. Irvine's Writing about Music. 3^rd ed. (Portland, OR, 1999)

Useful Online Bibliography Reference: Towson University has an online guide in the style of Irvine's Writing about Music, which can be accessed here.

Also Required (from MUH 2012: Survey of Western Music II): Craig Wright and Bryan Sims. Music in Western Civilization, Volume II - Enlightenment through Contemporary Music, (Thomson-Schirmer, 2006);  and
Timothy J. Roden, Craig Wright and Bryan Sims, ed. Anthology for Music in Western Civilization, Volume II - Enlightenment through Contemporary Music,  (Thomson-Schirmer, 2006).

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