The material on this page is from the 2003-04 catalog and may be out of date. Please check the current year's catalog for current information.
Music
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Professors Scott (on leave, 2003-2004), Anderson (chair), Matthews, and Parakilas (on leave, 2003-2004); Associate Professor Williams (on leave, 2003-2004); Visiting Assistant Professors Fatone and Pruiksma; Lecturers Glazer, Corrie, Carlsen, and Snow The Department of Music gives students the opportunity to study music from cultural, historical, ethnomusicological, theoretical, creative, and interpretive perspectives. The courses offered are suitable for general liberal arts students and for music majors, and include study of Western and non-Western musical traditions. In recent years, students have completed a number of interdisciplinary and double-major programs including substantial work in music. The department sponsors the following faculty-led extracurricular performing organizations: the College Choir, the Concert Band, the Fiddle Band, the "Fighting Bobcat" Orchestra, the Javanese Gamelan Mawar Mekar, the Jazz Ensemble, the Steel Pan Rhythm Riders, and ad hoc vocal and instrumental ensembles performing chamber music or jazz. Music 101, 102, and 103 are three independent introductions to the study of music, through different repertoires and methodologies. Each of them, however, introduces students to a common set of analytical concepts and the vocabulary essential to further work in the department. Students considering a major or secondary concentration in music should enroll in Music 231 as their first course in the department. Cross-listed Courses. Note that unless otherwise specified, when a department/program references a course or unit in the department/program, it includes courses and units cross-listed with the department/program. Major Requirements. All students majoring in music are required to take four courses in music theory (Music 231, 232, 331, and 332), one two-semester course of applied music, two 200-level courses other than applied music, Music 399, Music s28, and Music 457 or 458. Honors candidates or others pursuing full-year theses register for both 457 and 458. In addition to these courses, music majors have requirements specific to their field of specialization. Performers take two additional credits of applied music and participate in at least four semesters of small and large departmental performing ensembles. Composers take Music 235 and Music 237. History and theory students take two additional 200- or 300-level courses of their choice. Ethnomusicology students take Music 262 and an additional course in ethnomusicology. Pass/Fail Grading Option. Pass/Fail grading may be elected for courses applied towards the major. Secondary Concentration. The secondary concentration in music consists of seven courses: Music 231-232, 331-332, and three additional 200- or 300-level courses (one, but no more than one, of which may be a two-semester credit in applied music). Pass/Fail Grading Option. Pass/fail grading may be elected for courses applied toward the secondary concentration. Study of foreign languages is strongly recommended for students planning graduate work in music. Private instruction for credit is normally offered in banjo (Mr. Anthony Shostak); bassoon (Ms. Ardith Keef); clarinet (Ms. Carol Furman); double bass (Mr. George Rubino); drum set (Mr. Stephen Grover); electric bass (Mr. Kenneth Labrecque); euphonium (Ms. Anita Jerosch); fiddle (Mr. Gregory Boardman); flute (Ms. Kay Hamlin); French horn (Ms. Andrea Lynch); guitar (Mr. Kenneth Labrecque); harpsichord (Mr. Marion R. Anderson); jazz clarinet (Mr. Richard Gordan); jazz piano (Mr. Stephen Grover); oboe (Mr. Louis Hall); organ (Mr. Marion R. Anderson); percussion (Ms. Nancy Smith); piano (Mrs. Natasha Chances, Mr. John Corrie, Mr. Frank Glazer, Mr. Mark Howard); saxophone (Mr. Richard Gordan); trombone (Mr. Sebastian Jerosch); trumpet (Mr. John Furman); tuba (Ms. Anita Jerosch); viola (Ms. Julia Adams); violin (Mr. Stephen Kecskemethy); violoncello (Ms. Kathleen Foster); and voice (Ms. Christina Astrachan, Mr. John Corrie). Instructors are available to teach other classical, jazz, folk and non-Western instruments when demand exists. The conditions for taking applied music are set out below, under Music 270. General Education. Music s28 (Survey of Western Music) may serve as an option for the fifth humanities course. Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or A-Level credit awarded by the department may not be used towards fulfillment of any General Education requirements. CoursesMUS 101. Introduction to Listening. Reading and listening assignments, demonstrations, and class discussion provide opportunity to become familiar with the structures of music. The elements of music and the sociology of music making are studied, using repertoire from various cultures and historical periods, chosen mostly from music of the United States. Emphasis is placed on the student's perception of and involvement in the musical work. The course is open to, and directed toward, students unskilled in reading music as well as those with considerable musical experience. Enrollment limited to 96. Normally offered every year. J. Parakilas. MUS 102. Composers, Performers, and Audiences. Designed for students with little or no previous experience of the subject, this course considers the ways composers, performers, and audiences have affected one another in the history of Western music making. What were the employment conditions for composers? What is the relation between the composer and the performer? What sorts of audiences have different composers addressed, and how? The lives of a small number of composers, including Hildegard von Bingen, Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Clara Schumann, and Duke Ellington serve as case studies as students address these questions, and basic musical vocabulary is introduced both at the beginning of the course and along the way. Enrollment limited to 96. Normally offered every year. M. Anderson. MUS 103. Introduction to World Music. This course introduces students to the fundamental elements of music in selected music cultures of the world. The lectures use recordings, films, live performance, and hands-on training to enhance the student's understanding of performance practices and musical belief systems. The course explores the basic principles of ethnomusicology; musical connections to dance and ritual; and specific performance contexts in representative cultures of the United States, sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and Southeast Asia. Enrollment limited to 40. Normally offered every year. G. Fatone. MUS 231. Music Theory I. Beginning with a study of notation, scales, intervals, and rhythm, the course proceeds through composition and analysis of melodic forms, a study of harmonic motion, an introduction to the principles of counterpoint, and the analysis and composition of complete works from several popular and classical styles. The course includes practical ear-training and keyboard work in additional regularly scheduled laboratory sessions. Prerequisite(s): a reading knowledge of music. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. M. Anderson, R. Pruiksma. MUS 232. Music Theory II. A continuation of Music Theory I. Prerequisite(s): Music 231. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. G. Fatone, R. Pruiksma. MUS 233. Jazz Performance Workshop. Participants study jazz composition and harmonic theory and apply that knowledge to the practice and performance of small-group jazz improvisation. Course activities include the transcription and analysis of historical performances, composing and/or arranging, individual practice, group rehearsals on a common repertoire of standards, and at least two public performances. Vocalists and performers on any instrument may enroll. Prerequisite(s): Music 231. Recommended background: instrumental or vocal performance experience. Open to first-year students. Written permission of the instructor is required. Normally offered every year. Staff. MUS 235. Music Composition. Composition may be pursued by students at various levels of expertise and training. The course includes a weekly seminar and private lessons, and concentrates upon — without being limited to — contemporary idioms. Prerequisite(s): Music 232. Open to first-year students. Written permission of the instructor is required. Normally offered every year. P. Carlsen. MUS 236. The Piano as a Culture Machine. The piano has been part of the furniture of private and public life for three centuries. It has an amazingly rich repertory of its own, and it used to be the main medium for propagating every kind of music in Western culture. It was at the center of women's upbringing and at the root of the worldwide entertainment industry. The course explores the development of the instrument, its music, and its role in shaping our culture. Open to first-year students. Offered with varying frequency. J. Parakilas. MUS 237. Computers, Music, and the Arts. A hands-on study of music making with computers, using the facilities of the Bates Computer Music Studio. Topics include digital synthesis, sampling, MIDI communications, simple programming, and the aesthetics of art made with computers. No computing experience is presumed, and the course is especially designed for students of the arts who wish to learn about new tools. Work produced in the course is performed in concert. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 18. Normally offered every year. W. Matthews. INDS 239. Black Women in Music. Angela Davis states, "Black people were able to create with their music an aesthetic community of resistance, which in turn encouraged and nurtured a political community of active struggle for freedom." This course examines the role of black women as critics, composers, and performers who challenge externally defined controlling images. Topics include: black women in the music industry; black women in music of the African diaspora; and black women as rappers, jazz innovators, and musicians in the classical and gospel traditions. Cross-listed in African American studies, music, and women and gender studies. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. Not open to students who have received credit for African American Studies 239, Music 239, or Women and Gender Studies 239. Normally offered every other year. L. Williams. MUS 240. Music in its Time and Place. Study of the music and musical culture of a single historical time and place.
MUS 243. Music of the Classical Period. What to us is music of the Classical period or simply "classical music," the epitome of perfection and equilibrium in music, was actually created in a revolutionary age: the age of the Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution. This course examines not just music by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, but the dynamics of musical life, musical institutions, the music business, and the musical trends in which those composers and their contemporaries participated. It examines music and music making in the cultural capitals of Paris, London, and Vienna, but also elsewhere in Europe and the Americas. Prerequisite(s): one of the following: Music 101, 102, 103, or 231. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every other year. R. Pruiksma. MUS 245. Music Literature of the Twentieth Century. A study of music from Debussy and the expressionistic compositions of Schonberg through the development of twelve-tone techniques. Prerequisite(s): one of the following: Music 101, 102, or 231. Open to first-year students. M. Anderson. Course reinstated beginning Winter 2004. MUS 247. Jazz and Blues: History and Practice. American jazz and blues offer two rich traditions through which one can study music, race, and American history. Through extensive listening, reading assignments, and interaction with musicians themselves, students explore the recorded history and contemporary practice of jazz and blues. Prerequisite(s): one of the following: Music 101, 102, 103, or 231. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 96. Normally offered every other year. W. Matthews. AA/MU 249. African American Popular Music. When Americans stared at their black-and-white television sets in the early 1950s, they saw only a white world. Variety shows primarily spotlighted the talent of white performers. Change came slowly, and during the late 1950s American Bandstand introduced viewers to African American artists. Over the last two decades, however, the emergence of music videos has created the need for a critical and scholarly understanding of the emerging forces of African American music. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 40. Not open to students who have received credit for African American Studies 249 or Music 249. Normally offered every other year. L. Williams. MUS 250. Musical Theater in Central Java: Shadow Puppetry and Music. This course introduces students to the history and practice of the primary musical-theatrical form of Central Java, shadow-puppet theater (wayang kulit). Traditionally performed with the accompaniment of a gong-chime orchestra (gamelan), wayang kulit depicts tales drawn from the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Through songs, narrative, and manipulation of intricately carved puppets behind a light screen, the puppeteer (dalang) brings these ancient texts to life. Combining hands-on experience of puppet-making and playing gamelan, with historical study of wayang kulit as well as contemporary innovations, this course offers students an indepth experience of one of the most prominent art forms of Indonesia. The course expands students' understanding of musical theater beyond Broadway, and offers one way to explore the historically dominant culture of Indonesia, that of the Central Javanese. Enrollment is limited to 30. Open to first-year students. J. Susilo. New course beginning Winter 2004. MUS 254. Music and Drama. How do music and drama go together, and how are the possible relationships between them exploited in different media? This course is a study of dramas that use music, not only opera, but also musicals, movies, and non-Western musical theater. Works are heard and seen on audio and video recordings, and the class may attend an opera performance in Boston or Portland. Gender issues pertaining to all genres are discussed throughout the course. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every other year. J. Parakilas. MUS 255. The Orchestra. The orchestra has come to represent a stronghold of Western culture — the massive and serious ensemble for which the "masters" set down their most profound musical ideas. Challenging notions of the "masterwork" and the transcendence of orchestral music, this course explores the origins of the ensemble — grounded in the dance — and presents changing cultural contexts and the concurrent changes in the status of orchestral music across time. Students listen to repertory ranging from the music of Louis XIV's court to Duke Ellington's jazz orchestra through the filter of cultural studies. Prerequisite(s): one of the following: Music 101, 102, 103, or 231. Open to first-year students. Offered with varying frequency. Staff. MUS 260. Women's Voices in Music. This course explores the multiple ways women have made their voices heard in music — as performers, composers, patrons, and listeners — across time and culture. Taking a broad concept of voice from musical instrument to a powerful expression of individuality, students examine a range of women's musical experience and the ways performance, composition, and patronage have interacted to construct musical expression and women's articulation of their experiences. Case studies cover a range of material, from the nuns for whom Hildegard von Bingen composed her distinctive liturgical chants, to the female singers of the Javanese gamelan ensemble. This course involves regular listening and readings as the basis for in-class discussion; students are evaluated on classroom participation, brief writing assignments in response to the listenings and readings, a final research paper, and presentations to the class. Prerequisite(s): one of the following: Music 101, 102, 103, or 231, or any course in women and gender studies. Open to first-year students. Offered with varying frequency. R. Pruiksma. INDS 262. Ethnomusicology: African Diaspora. This introductory course is a survey of key concepts, problems, and perspectives in ethnomusicological theory drawing upon the African diaspora as a cross-cultural framework. This course focuses on the social, political, and intellectual forces of African culture that contributed to the growth of ethnomusicology from the late nineteenth century to the present. Cross-listed in African American studies, anthropology, and music. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 25. Not open to students who have received credit for African American Studies 262, Anthropology 262, or Music 262. Normally offered every other year. L. Williams. MUS 265. Great Composers. A study of the works of one or two composers. Open to first-year students.
MUS 270. Applied Music. An exploration of the literature for voice or a solo instrument through weekly instruction. Problems of performance practice, style, and form are emphasized equally to build technique. One course credit is granted upon completion of every two consecutive semesters of lessons. A maximum of four course credits may be earned in Music 270. Students register for Music 270 whenever they take the course; the actual sequential course number (271-278) is recorded in the student's registration. Those who register for applied music instruction on an instrument must have at least a beginner's facility with that instrument. Corequisite(s): Participation in a department ensemble during both semesters of applied music study or enrollment in one departmental course other than applied music during that year. A special fee of $290 per semester is charged for each course. Written permission of the department chair is required for the first semester of applied music, but not for subsequent semesters. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every semester. M. Anderson. MUS 280. Applied Music II. See Music 270 for course description. Students register for both Music 270 and 280 if they are studying two musical instruments (or an instrument and voice) during the same semester. Students register for Music 280 whenever they take the course; the actual sequential course number (281-288) is recorded in the student's registration. A maximum of four course credits may be earned in Music 280. Those who register for applied music instruction on an instrument must have at least a beginner's facility with that instrument. A special fee of $290 is charged for each course. Written permission of the department chair is required for the first semester of applied music, but not for any subsequent semester. Corequisite(s): Music 270. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every semester. M. Anderson. MUS 331. Music Theory III. A continuation of Music Theory II, emphasizing four-voice textures, modulation, chromatic harmony, and sonata forms. Students compose music in several forms and styles, and continue practical ear-training and keyboard work. Regularly scheduled laboratory sessions. Prerequisite(s): Music 232. Normally offered every year. M. Anderson. MUS 332. Music Theory IV. A continuation of Music Theory III, emphasizing chromatic harmony and the post-tonal styles of the twentieth century. Regularly scheduled laboratory sessions. Prerequisite(s): Music 331. Normally offered every year. M. Anderson. MUS 335. Jazz Harmony. A study of jazz harmony and composition, focusing on piano music by Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk, and Bill Evans. Students transcribe and analyze representative compositions and complete exercises to expand their own understanding of jazz harmony. A large component of the course consists of keyboard practice and performance. Prerequisite(s): Music 232. Enrollment limited to 12. Offered with varying frequency. W. Matthews. MUS 360. Independent Study. Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study per semester. Normally offered every semester. Staff. MUS 365. Special Topics. A course or seminar offered from time to time and reserved for a special topic selected by the department. Offered with varying frequency. Staff. MUS 399. Junior-Senior Seminar. Intensive analytical or theoretical study for advanced students. The particular topics vary from year to year according to the needs and interests of students and instructor. At least one junior-senior seminar is offered each year.
MUS 457, 458. Senior Thesis. An independent study program culminating in: a) an essay on a musical topic; b) an original composition accompanied by an essay on the work; or c) a recital accompanied by an essay devoted to analysis of works included in the recital. Students register for Music 457 in the fall semester and for Music 458 in the winter semester. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both Music 457 and 458. Normally offered every year. Staff. Short Term UnitsMUS s22. Making Music. Independent or group study of a particular form of musical composition or performance. Prerequisite(s): an ability to perform. Written permission of the instructor is required. Offered with varying frequency.
MUS s23. Steel Pan Performance and Tradition. This unit introduces students to advanced steel pan techniques by exploring specific styles of steel pan performance. Students must be able to form their own decisions on phrasing, tempo, dynamics, and articulation through a thorough understanding of the individual work. The unit involves structural analysis of selected works, examination of the stylistic contexts to which they belong, and historical study of the appropriate performance practices. Students work independently or in small groups with a master steel pan professor. Students travel and study for three weeks in St. Thomas and St. John, Virgin Islands. The unit culminates in a performance based on this study. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 13. Written permission of the instructor is required. Offered with varying frequency. L. Williams. MUS s25. Performing Musical Art of Indonesia. This unit introduces students to traditional music of Indonesia through study and performance of Javanese gamelan (gong-chime orchestra) and related theater arts under the leadership of a resident Indonesian artist/scholar. Students develop collaborative rehearsal and performance skills in a largely oral transmission setting, experiencing alternative modes of both conceptualizing and learning music. Class members have the additional opportunity to study independently with the resident artist. Study culminates in a series of local/regional public ensemble performances. Students learn to locate Indonesian gamelan in the larger context of South East Asian performing arts. Recommended background: ability to perform. Enrollment limited to 20. Offered with varying frequency. G. Fatone. New unit beginning Short Term 2004. MUS s27. Exploring Jazz Guitar. This unit explores the nature of the guitar in jazz. A historical survey of jazz guitarists includes extensive listening and viewing of video performances, with special attention to the techniques that established their individual voices on the instrument. Elements of guitar acoustics are discussed and demonstrated in the laboratory. While the unit is designed for players and nonplayers, it includes a discussion of jazz theory and analysis. Private lessons are available for guitarists. Open to first-year students. Enrollment limited to 30. Offered with varying frequency. J. Smedley. MUS s28. Survey of Western Music. A survey of Western music from circa 1000 C.E. to the present. Compositions are studied chronologically and within their cultural context. Extensive listening assignments provide material for daily class lectures and discussion. Open to first-year students. Normally offered every year. Staff. MUS s29. American Musicals on Film. From The Jazz Singer of 1927 to Chicago of 2002, American musicals on film have been remarkably reflexive: "show business about show business." On closer analysis, they provide us with fascinating clues about American popular taste and our culture in general. The unit examines more than twenty films and includes the videotaping of a class production. Offered with varying frequency. Staff. MUS s50. Independent Study. Students, in consultation with a faculty advisor, individually design and plan a course of study or research not offered in the curriculum. Course work includes a reflective component, evaluation, and completion of an agreed-upon product. Sponsorship by a faculty member in the program/department, a course prospectus, and permission of the chair are required. Students may register for no more than one independent study during a Short Term. Normally offered every year. Staff. |
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