SYLLABUS

MUSIC 408 D

(timings are tentative)

Summer 2017

June 13

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.

June 14 - 15

The demise of tonality
Oscillating between tonality and atonality; parallel movement; motivic cells.
• Hugo Wolff - Mignon II: Nur wer die Sensucht kenn
• Richard Strauss - Elektra, solo scene
• Debussy - ...danseuses de Delphes
• Anton Webern - Op 3, # 1
• Schoenberg - Op.11

First listening test: 6/16

First assignment due: 6/20

June 15 - 16

Constructive devices: Rhythm
Pierre Boulez's analysis. Time proportions.
• Stravinsky - Sacre du printemps
• Cage - Sonatas and Interludes

June 20 - 23

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
• Stravinsky - Three pieces for string quartet
• Enescu - Third Piano and Violin Sonata
  • Prelude to Oedipe, act I
• Varèse - Density 21.5

Second listening test: 6/23

Second assignment due: 6/27

June 27 - 28

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

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

Third assignment due: 7/5

Third listening test: 6/30

June 29 - July 7

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 - Poème pour Mi
• Stravinsky - Movements for piano and orchestra

Final exam (comprehensive): Friday, July 7

[ back to Music 408 D | to Reserve list | Class notes | back to Courses | back to Sever Tipei's home page | Computer Music Project | ]