MUSIC HISTORY:AN INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

Detailed Course Outline

The Baroque Era

Introduction• Polyphony• Definition: Baroque, homophonic texture, polyphonic texture• Basso continuo and figured bass notation• Basso continuo and figured bass notation (2)• Definition: figured bass and basso continuo• Ornamentation in art• Ornamentation in music• Definition: ornamentation• Terraced dynamics• Definition: terraced dynamics• Major-minor tonal system• Definition: major-minor tonal system• The Affections• Definition: the Affections

Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons• INTRODUCTION

Il prete rosso• DISCOVERY LISTENING

RitornelloProgrammatic writingPoetic textConcerto structureConcertino and ripienoDefinitions: programmatic writing, concerto, ritornello, ripieno

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKEarly lifeWork at the orphanageOpera houses of VeniceFine instruments of CremonaDefinition: idiomatic writingLater Life and DeathMantua and the Four SeasonsMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGStructure of “Spring”First movementSecond movementThird movementDefinition: ostinato and pedal point

• SUMMARYMusical style

Johann Sebastian Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier• INTRODUCTION

Something magicalSomething magical (2)Something magical (3)

• DISCOVERY LISTENINGPrelude and Fugue in B flat MajorSubject and answerCountersubjectsReal answers and tonal answersDefinition: subject, answer (real and tonal), countersubject

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKEarly LifeEarly influencesEarly careerEarly career and marriagePersonal faith as source of inspirationThe Little Organ BookThe Well-Tempered ClavierThe Well-Tempered Clavier (2)Definitions: clavier and equal temperamentInternational styles and German traditionsBrandenburg concertosThe Notebook for Anna MagdalenaArt of FugueBach’s very last fugueDeathMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGPreludeFugue

• SUMMARYMusical style

George Frideric Handel: Messiah• INTRODUCTION

Messiah’s debut• DISCOVERY LISTENING

Oratorio“Overture”“There were shepherds” and “Glory to God”

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKEarly yearsHamburg and ItalyFrench overtureRinaldoPatronageWater musicRoyal Academy of MusicGiulio CesareFrom opera seria to English oratorioLater life and deathMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENING“Overture”Definition: French overture“There were shepherds” and “Glory to God”Definitions: recitativo secco/accompagnato, word painting, libretto“Rejoice Greatly”Word painting versus programmatic writingDefinition: oratorio, melisma, aria“Hallelujah”

• SUMMARYMusical style

The Classical Era

Introduction• 18th-century trends in music• Sonata form• Sonata form origin and influences• Time Travel

Franz Joseph Haydn: “Emperor Quartet”• INTRODUCTION

Papa Haydn• DISCOVERY LISTENING

Definitions: chamber music, string quartetString quartetSonata cycle“God Save Emperor Francis”Second movement

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKEarly yearsFreelance musicianEsterházy familyVienna and first travelsLater yearsMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGSecond movement: theme and variationsThe unaltered melodyDefinition: theme and variations

• SUMMARYMusical style

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik• INTRODUCTION

In the Sistine chapel in Rome• DISCOVERY LISTENING

Serenade and sonata cycleFirst movement sonata formSecond movement rondo formThird movement ternary formFourth movement sonata-rondo formDefinition: serenade

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKEarly yearsChildhood travels in EuropeConcert master in SalzburgGermany and ParisViennaLater lifeFinal yearMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGI: SonataII: RondoIII: Ternary form (Menuet and Trio)IV: Sonata-RondoDefinitions: rondo form, menuet and trio, sonata-rondo formDefinitions: rocket theme and rounded binary form

• SUMMARYMusical style

Ludwig Van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5• INTRODUCTION

A story about Symphony No. 9• DISCOVERY LISTENING

Sonata cycleFour-note motive and cyclical structureDefinition: symphony, cyclical structure, motive, scherzo and trio

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKChildhood yearsLearning with Christian NeefeTeenage years and early adulthoodTravel to ViennaInfluence of Haydn and MozartSome anecdotesFirst solo concertHeiligenstadt testamentEarly periodMiddle periodLate periodLast years and deathMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGI: SonataII: Two themes with variationsIII: Ternary from (Scherzo and Trio)IV: Sonata

• SUMMARYMusical style

The Romantic Era

Introduction• The Wanderer• Timeline• Chromatic Harmony• Definition: Chromatic Harmony• Time Travel

Franz Schubert: Erlkönig• INTRODUCTION

The wanderer who wrote art songs• DISCOVERY LISTENING

Storytelling with MusicDefinitions: Art song, Lied

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKEarly YearsYoung AdulthoodYoung Adulthood (2)SchubertiadesLater Life and DeathMusical Sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGErlkönig

• SUMMARYMusical style

Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise in A flat Major• INTRODUCTION

The Summer in the Village• DISCOVERY LISTENING

Bel cantoRubatoPolonaises, mazurkas, and nationalism in musicDefinitions: polonaise, nationalism in music, rubato

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKEarly lifeFirst piano teacherInfluence of FolkloreThe secret dedicationTechnological advancementsThe November 29th uprisingLife in ParisGeorges SandWinter in MajorcaPreludes, op. 28Summers in NohantChopin’s Final YearsMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGPolonaise in A flat Major, op. 53

• SUMMARYMusical style

Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique• INTRODUCTION

Commotion in the library• DISCOVERY LISTENING

Idée fixeDefinition: idée fixe, Dies irae

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKEarly yearsRomantic interestsPrix de RomeRome and return to ParisLife after marriageCritic and writerMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENING5th movementDefinition: program symphony, col legno

• SUMMARYMusical style

Georges Bizet: Carmen• INTRODUCTION

Exotic Stories• DISCOVERY LISTENING

PlotFate motive“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (Carmen’s aria)Exoticism in musicDefinition: habañera, exoticism

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKOverviewPremiere of CarmenMusical Sampler

• DETAILED LISTENING“Quand je vous aimerai?”“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle” (Carmen’s aria)“Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre” (Escamillo’s aria)

• SUMMARYMusical style

The Modern Era

Introduction• In Search of a New Musical Language• Symbolism• Timeline• Time travel

Claude Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune• INTRODUCTION

Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune

• DISCOVERY LISTENINGSymbolism in literatureImpressionismIntroduction to Impressionism in musicCharacteristics of impressionism in musicDefinition: modal scales, whole-tone scale, pentatonic scaleSymphonic poemDefinition: Symbolism, symphonic poem, impressionism in music

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKChildhood and early lifeEarly lifePrix de Rome and Villa MediciParis World Exposition and Javanese gamelan musicPelléas et MélisandeEmma BardacLater life and deathMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGPrélude à l’après-midi d’un faune

• SUMMARYMusical style

Igor Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring• INTRODUCTION

The most turbulent premiere in history• DISCOVERY LISTENING

Introduction of The Rite of SpringBallets RussesDefinition: primitivism, ballet, choreographyMusic for Dinosaurs

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKEarly lifeMeeting Nikolai Rimsky-KorsakovFirebird and PetrushkaAbout tonalityDefinitions: polytonality, atonality, and expanded tonalityLife in EuropeLife in AmericaMusical periodsMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGThe Rite of SpringIntroductionDance of the AdolescentsGame of Abduction

• SUMMARYMusical style

Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story• INTRODUCTION

Breaking down barriers• DISCOVERY LISTENING

West Side StoryJazz influenceDefinition: musical, jazz

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKOverviewMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENING“Maria”“America”Definitions: hemiola, verse-chorus structure

• SUMMARYMusical style

Alexina Louie: Music for Piano• INTRODUCTION

West meets East• DISCOVERY LISTENING

Music for pianoMinimalist musicDefinition: minimalism in music

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKOverviewMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGChanges

• SUMMARYMusical style

John Adams• INTRODUCTION

A Fast Car• DISCOVERY LISTENING

Experiencing ExhilarationFanfareMinimalist styleDefinition: fanfare, minimalism in music

• COMPOSER’S LIFE AND WORKOverviewMusical sampler

• DETAILED LISTENINGShort Ride in a Fast Machine

• SUMMARYMusical style

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