Music 301: History of Western Music I

Objectives: Familiarity with and understanding of selected works of Western music from the middle ages to the early 18th century; identification and study of distinctive features of the music of this period; the ability to pursue basic research on the music of this period and to present this research in written form.

Texts:

• J. Peter Burkholder, Donald Jay Grout and Claude V. Palisca, A History of Western Music, 8th edition (New York: Norton, 2010), required purchase.
• J. Peter Burkholder and Claude V. Palisca, ed., Norton Anthology of Western Music, 6th ed., vol. 1 (New York: Norton, 2010), required purchase.
• Norton Recorded Anthology of Western Music, 6th ed., vol. 1 (New York: Norton, 2010). These six CDs contain all the examples in the Norton Anthology of Western Music, vol. 1. This is an optional purchase, since all required listening examples will be available on Blackboard.
• J. Peter Burkholder and Jennifer L. King, Study and Listening Guide for A History of Western Music and Norton Anthology of Western Music (New York: Norton, 2009), optional purchase.

Topics for Discussion:

1. Music in the Middle Ages, chapters 1-6
   • Chant and liturgy, ch. 2-3 (NAWM 3-7)
   • Secular monophony, ch. 4 (8-13)
   • Early polyphony to 1300, ch. 5 (14-22)
   • French and Italian music of the 14th century, ch.6 (23-30)
2. Music of the Renaissance, chapters 7-12
   • English music and the Burgundian school, ch. 7-8 (31-36)
   • The age of the Netherlanders to Josquin, ch. 9 (37-41).
   • Church music in the late renaissance, ch. 10 (42-47)
   • 16th Century styles: chanson, madrigal, instrumental music, ch 11-12 (48-62)
3. Music of the Baroque, chapters 13-19
   • The early baroque, ch. 13-15 (63-76)
   • The French baroque, ch. 16 (77-81)
   • The mature Italian baroque, ch. 17 (82-84)
   • Late baroque music, ch. 18-19 (85-92)

Course Requirements

1. Prompt attendance and participation in class discussion. Three or more unexcused absences will result in grade reduction. (Bring Burkholder and Norton Anthology to every class.)
2. Reading and listening as assigned.
3. Class work as assigned.
4. Brief project, due October 17.
5. Class project, including 5-page essay, end of term.
6. Two one-hour exams. Use one blue book for both exams.
7. Final examination. Bring a blue book.
8. Grading will employ the plus-and-minus system. Music majors must achieve the grade of C (2.0) or higher to avoid repeating the course; C-minus is not good enough.

Review materials

1. Medieval music, chapters 1-6
2. Renaissance music, chapters 7-12
3. Baroque music, chapters 13-19
4. T. Arbeau gives reason to dance
5. T. Morley defines musical genres
6. Summary of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo
7. Summary of Monteverdi's Vespers
8. Videos of pieces in the Norton Anthology of Western Music, vol. 1. (YouTube)
9. Other early music playlists from Dr. Steel (YouTube)

Links of interest:

• Norton music history Study Space: outlines, study guides, interactive listening guides, etc.
• Magnatune: We are not evil.
• ClassicalNet
• Early Music FAQ (Todd McComb)
• Journal of Seventeenth-Century Music
• Male sopranists
• Gregorian chant
• International Machaut Society
• White mensural notation
• Henry Purcell
• J.S. Bach home page
• Bach Central Station
• G.F. Handel
• Baroque music
• Worldwide Internet music resources
• Google Web Search
• Strunk, Elements of Style

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