An intensive course providing a practical background in Western music from 1750 to the present. Covers musical forms, styles, composers, compositions, and important influences on the development of Western music.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
This course develops the student’s ability to apply intelligent listening habits to the varied forms and styles of Western music from 1750 to present. Historical style analysis and accuracy of listening and identification are developed.
- Rococo
Transition to Classical, Style gallant, empfindsamer stil, sturm and drang, Relevant composers
- Classical
Enlightenment, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Minor composers, Comparison and contrast with Baroque and Rococo, Development of sonata form in Classical, showing evolution from Baroque and Rococo, Development of variation form, showing evolution from previous period, Evolution of contrapuntal forms through classical
- Romantic
Evolution of forms, The romantic ideals, Evolution of chromaticism, The great song cycles, Relevant composers
- Post Romantic
Tone poem, Thematic transformation in sonata form from Beethoven, Program music, Music drama, Wagner Richard Strauss, Expansion of tonality to breaking point, Relevant composers
- Twentieth Century
Debussy, Fauré, Impressionism, Ravel, Neoclassicism, The evolution of twelve tone techniques, relevant composers, Stravinsky, Ives, Bartok, Hindemith, the Russians, Nationalism in music, Electronic sources, formalized music, relevant composers, Concrete, aleatoric techniques, Messiaen and disciples, Total serialization, Minimalism, relevant composers, Contrapuntal technique in twentieth-century music, Introduction to American music, Charles Ives, Charlie Parker
- Demonstrate a knowledge of musical style in each of the traditional historical periods of music history
- Recognize musical compositions from each era
- Distinguish among major composers
- Describe the elements used in a musical composition
- Locate and list CDs which are examples of styles and genres studied in class
- Demonstrate a knowledge of the social background of each era and give reasons why it resulted in the music of that era*
* Fulfills the HFCC General Education Outcome for critical thinking and problem solving.
Assessment and Requirements
- Listening Exams
- Terminology Exams
- Research projects
Outcomes
- Humanities and Fine Arts
- Humanities
- Category 5: Humanities and Fine Arts
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
Determined by department