2nd Semester

A. Rationale:

The 20^th century is perhaps the most exciting but at the same time the most tumultuous century that the entire world has experienced.  The explosion of scientific knowledge and technological developments forever changed the way humans lived and interacted. However, it was also the century of two devastating world wars the world has yet unseen. This period of intense creation, destruction and recreation was paralleled in the arts. MuL 135 places these social and cultural circumstances as the backdrop to better understand the music of the 20^th century.

B. Course Aims Objectives

This course aims to provide you an awareness of the expansive developments in styles, philosophies and aesthetics that occurred in Western music in the 20^th century. The goal is to improve your ability to listen intelligently and perceive the distinctive features of a composition and enable you to classify a work under a particular style artistic movement of the period. By the end of the semester, you should be able to name the significant composers and schools of thought and discuss their contribution towards the development of art and music of the century and how these were shaped by social and political factors.  As a result of this understanding, your artistry as a musician will hopefully be enhanced and your musical taste as a listener expanded.

We expect to achieve these goals through reading, discussion, viewing and listening as well as performance. Tests will assess both your objective and subjective knowledge of the topic. Classroom discussion, journal writing and essay requirements will challenge you to improve your communicative skills and formulate your own opinions. The practical project you will work on in a small group towards the end of the semester will necessitate the application of your creativity and challenge your organizational and management abilities.