Art music forms and repertoires

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course explores an overview of art music forms and repertoires with advanced applications of music analysis and compositional exercises. Analysis will include representative examples from the common practice period to the present. Frequent assignments and analysis of music will focus on the creation and development of germinal materials, structure, metric/rhythmic flow, concepts of consonance and dissonance, melodic invention, harmony, color and orchestration. Class sessions will involve readings, practical assignments, music listening, analysis and discussion of an array of music genres. Students will be involved with group critiques.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Students will:
– Consider and review the basic music elements of structure, tonality, rhythm, music to acquire a deeper and more competent fluency of the rudimentary elements of pitch, intervals, scales, keys, and chords.
– Analyze scores from varying stylistic periods examining melody, rhythm, harmony, form, and instrumentation.
– Compose composition exercises using at least two different musical forms.
– Deepen skills in and understanding of analysis and/or composition of music in the style of the Common-Practice, Post-Common-Practice periods to the present.
– Gain additional understanding of advanced theoretical or compositional techniques.
– Strive for enlightened understanding of the aesthetic and formal beauty of the Western European musical language and begin to acquire a deeper appreciation of the great works of art that exemplify and embody its expressive power.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will:
– Acquire and demonstrate an understanding of the structural, formal, and procedural workings of Western European tonal music.1.2

– Complete course assessment instruments demonstrating an understanding of how melody, rhythm, harmony, form, and instrumentation are used to effectively analyze music from the various stylistic periods.2.1

– Complete analysis assignments from differing style periods that demonstrate their ability to interpret the score.2.2, 4.2,  5.1, 6.1

– Produce a minimum of two music assignments of 30 measures of composition which demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical concepts of selected musical forms.3.1, 6.2

– Execute correct analysis of excerpts from the standard classical repertoire to repertoire of the present day, correctly identifying musical structures.5.2, 6.3

– Execute the principles of conventional voice leading that contextualize these elements into coherent musical statements, especially as they apply to the primary triads in root position and inversions, as well as the dominant seventh chord in root position.1.3, 4.1, 5.1, 6.3

COURSE STRUCTURE:

This web course will be flexible in managing the various learning circumstances of individual students. Each topic presented will have readings, music literature listening review and discussion, and activity. Activity assignments can be arranged on three learning levels: novice, intermediate, and master in sonic arts level, depending upon the level of student need.

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE:

As students familiarize themselves with the course, downloads for text, tests and assignments will be available.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:

Music for Analysis. 6th edition. By Thomas Benjamin, Horvit and Nelson.
Oxford University Press. 2008

RECOMMENDED: Introduction to Post Tonal Theory by Joseph N. Straus; Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, ISBN 0-13-686692-1