Music 1: Introduction to Western Art Music, From Bach to Beyoncé

Semester: 

Spring

Offered: 

2021
This course introduces you to a variety of art music repertories, and a range of ways to think, talk, and write about them. While we explore some of the great “classics” of the Western musical canon, including works by male composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Stravinsky, we also discover the critical roles played by renowned female performers, patrons, and writers, as well as the significant impacts made by artists of color, such as Pulitzer-prize winner Kendrick Lamar, and Beyoncé. Ending in the present day, we investigate what music means in a global context, and a world increasingly shaped by new technologies and digital networks. During the semester, you will build a robust vocabulary for analyzing music and articulating a response to it. You will gain an understanding of social, political, and cultural histories of music, and deepen your awareness of the role of musical traditions in your life. Finally, you will possess a strong command over a substantial repertory. No prior knowledge of music history or musical notation is necessary, and you will be graded on the improvements you make in engaging with the material. By the end of class, you will be equipped to embark on a lifetime of informed listening.