SYLLABUS

MUSIC 408 D

(timings are tentative)

Spring 2007

January 16

Course organization.
Recapitulation: The tonal system, a historical perspective. Common language/grammar. Enharmonic ambiguities in late romantic music.
Aesthetic trends at the turn of the 19th. century in Europe.

January 18 - 30

The demise of tonality

• Richard Strauss: Elektra, solo scene
• Debussy: ...danseuses de Delphes
• Schoenberg: Op.11
• Stravinsky: Three pieces for string quartet

First assignment due: 2/1

February 1 - 8

Constructive devices: Rhythm

• Stravinski: Sacre du printemps

First listening test: 2/8

February 13 - March 8

Non-tonal centricity and Modes
Polychords and polytonality.
Neo-classicism and constructivism.
Modes in medieval & renaissance Western music; in East-European folklore; "artificial" scales.
• Stravinsky - Symphony of Psalms, last movement
• Darius Milhaud - Le boeuf sur le toit
• Ives - Concord Sonata, The Alcotts
• Bartok - Dances in Bulgarian rhythms
• Enescu - Third Piano and Violin Sonata, Prelude to Oedipe, act I
• Varese - Density 21.5

Creative assignment due: 3/8

March 13 - 29

Constructive devices: Timbre
Bruitism; Dada and Futurism.
Klangfarbenmelodie, prepared piano.

• Varese - Ionisation
• Schoenberg - Five pieces for orchestra Op. 16, "Colors"
• Webern - Ricercar (orchestration from Bach's Musical Offering)
• Cowell - Aeolian Harp
• Cage - Sonatas and Interludes

Second listening test: 3/29

April 3 - May 1

Atonal systems Tone-row music and serialism. Messiaen and his musical technique.
Later developments: Xenakis's Sieves and Vieru's Book of Modes.
Structuralism
• Schoenberg - Variation for orchestra Op. 31
• Berg - Violin concerto
• Webern - Variations for piano Op. 27
• Messiaen - Poeme pour Mi
• Stravinsky - Movements for piano and orchestra

Second assignment due 5/1

Final exam (comprehensive): Thursday, May 10, 1:30 - 4:30 pm

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