Courses

This course analyzes repertoire from the European Classical and Romantic periods. Presenting diverse and representative works, this course provides templates for analysis of both the music and its sociocultural environment. Students will participate in class discussions, complete individual analyses, and present small group projects.

This course analyzes repertoire from the 20th and 21st centuries. Presenting diverse and representative works, this course provides templates for analysis of both the music and its stylistic context and sociocultural environment. Students will participate in class discussions, complete individual analyses, and present small group projects.

This course draws from a wide variety of classical and contemporary compositional forms, styles, and concepts. Students examine and explore approaches through the analysis of scores, and through discussions, study, and listening. Students read writings of composers, dealing with creative conception and process in modern symphony, opera, chamber, experimental, and popular forms (exploring Bach, Bernstein, Varèse, Babbitt, Stockhausen, Ellington, Jarrett, Maria Schneider, Monk, Sting, Ani DiFranco, and more). Students explore various music and approaches, and read and write critical papers on their own aesthetic/perspectives. They apply various approaches as they develop their own composition process, style, and techniques.

A comprehensive survey of the forms that originated in the Renaissance, baroque, and classical periods, and their development and use by composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Isorhythm, ground bass, variation passage, and fugue are traced in detail from their earliest use to the 20th century.

John Cage and Morton Feldman were two of the most influential composers of the 20th century. This course is designed to acquaint students with their philosophies, their relationship to visual art and poetry, and, most importantly, their unique and original compositional techniques.

An in-depth survey of the principal instrumental soloists, vocalists, vocal groups, arrangers, and composers of the bebop period. A variety of groups will be examined through recordings.

Analysis of progressive rock music from 1967—present. The influence of compositional and orchestral techniques and use of acoustic instrumentation. The fusion of standard rock styles and classical music forms, including opera (Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar, Wings of Man). Analysis of rhythmic and harmonic devices. Groups to be discussed will include Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Kansas, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

This course will delve into a history and analysis of the life and work of Pauline Oliveros investigating her major contributions to the field of contemporary composition. The curriculum will cover her electronic and acoustic compositions, writings, inventive philosophies on listening, improvisation, and legacy and impact on 20th and 21st century music. The approach to learning about Oliveros will be greatly informed by the radical pedagogy that she sets forth in her Deep Listening practice, which will be fully examined.

A course tracing the development of the music of Miles Davis. Examination and discussion of the evolution of his playing and writing styles. Concentration on the listening and analysis of improvised solos, tunes, forms, harmonic practice, and his influence on other performers.

A chronological investigation of the music of Duke Ellington and the development of the Ellington Orchestra. Through listening and score analysis, students become familiar with various techniques associated with Ellington's unique approach to composition, arranging, and orchestration.

An investigation of the basic stylistic elements found in the compositions and arrangements of Charles Mingus. Categorization and analysis of various works.

Comparative study and analysis of the principal Beethoven quartets. Relationship of the quartets to his work as a whole. Examination of the outstanding compositional characteristics of this important body of literature.