MUH 3011: Twentieth-Century Music

Music Department
Email: comberiatic@mville.edu
Voice Mail: (914) 323-5252
Music Building, Room 114
Fall, 2009

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

Requirements:

Attendance at All Sessions

Listening and Reading Assignments

Quizzes

Mid-Term Exam

In class presentation on Nationalism Topic

Term Paper

Cumulative Listening Final Examination

Additional for Graduate or Honors Students:

In class presentation on Avant-Garde Work

Grading:
Class Work, Quizzes & Attendance	20%
Final Exam	25%
Mid-Term Exam	20%
Writing Assignments, Presentation, and Term Paper	35%

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

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).

Learning Objectives: MUH 3011: Twentieth Century Music explores the repertoire of art music of the last century in Europe and the United States. This concentrated survey will introduce students to the following Music Department Learning Objectives:

Objective II: Critical Thinking and Aural Analysis

By learning to examine pieces within specific historical and cultural contexts, and learning to ask questions about the style, context, and function for historical understanding, performance or transmission of ideas to others.

By developing the ability to compare and contrast major works in history of music.

By learning to read primary source texts and secondary works critically, and to question the assumptions of scholars.

Objective III: Breadth of Knowledge

By demonstrating broad, generalized knowledge of repertoire, formal procedures, and chronology of style.

By investigating a deeper knowledge base in specialized fields; developing tools for building advanced levels of knowledge.

Objective IV: Information Retrieval and Literacy

By learning to locate and retrieve information from a variety of sources, both primary and secondary.

By learning to evaluate information and its sources critically.

By learning to demonstrate how research can support ideas when presenting an argument.

Objective V: Analytic and Research Writing Skills

By developing a clear and grammatically-correct writing style.

By learning to identify and cite sources properly, and to understand the standards of integrity in the pursuit of academic work.

By learning to write effective comparative essays, including discussions of style, image function, and historical context.

By developing effective thesis statements and/or topic sentences for advanced research papers and build arguments using both primary and secondary sources.

Objective VI: Develop a Global Outlook

By understanding the role of religion, socio-economic, and political factors in influencing music.

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	By learning to examine pieces within specific historical and cultural contexts, and learning to ask questions about the style, context, and function for historical understanding, performance or transmission of ideas to others.
	By developing the ability to compare and contrast major works in history of music.
	By learning to read primary source texts and secondary works critically, and to question the assumptions of scholars.

	By demonstrating broad, generalized knowledge of repertoire, formal procedures, and chronology of style.
	By investigating a deeper knowledge base in specialized fields; developing tools for building advanced levels of knowledge.

	By learning to locate and retrieve information from a variety of sources, both primary and secondary.
	By learning to evaluate information and its sources critically.
	By learning to demonstrate how research can support ideas when presenting an argument.

	By developing a clear and grammatically-correct writing style.
	By learning to identify and cite sources properly, and to understand the standards of integrity in the pursuit of academic work.
	By learning to write effective comparative essays, including discussions of style, image function, and historical context.
	By developing effective thesis statements and/or topic sentences for advanced research papers and build arguments using both primary and secondary sources.