Courses
Current Trends in Orchestra Composition
Students will study orchestral compositions by the most recognized 21st-century concert music composers.
The Music of John Cage and Morton Feldman: Sound-Time-Process
John Cage and Morton Feldman were two of the most influential composers of the 20th century.
In the Mix: Contemporary Composition Approaches in Discussion on Form, Aesthetic, and Style
This course draws from a wide variety of classical and contemporary compositionalforms, styles, and concepts.
Music of Olivier Messiaen
A study of the music, ideas, and philosophy of Olivier Messiaen; examination of Messiaen's text on composition, Technique de mon langage musical (The Technique of My Musical Language); study o
African American Composers
This course will discuss the contributions that African American composers have made to classical music from the late 19th century to the 21st century.
Maurice Ravel: The Man and His Music
This course surveys the life and music of Maurice Ravel, one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century.
Music of Women Composers
A survey course on the female contribution to the art of music from the Middle Ages to the present.
Analysis of Sonata Forms
A comparative, historical study of sonata forms from the baroque period to the present.
Seminal Composers of the 20th Century
An in-depth examination of composers whose work has proven of lasting importance, not only in and of itself, but also because of its influence on contemporary compositional styles.
The Symphonies of Jean Sibelius
Analysis of the development of the Sibelius style from the first through the seventh symphonies.
The Music of Igor Stravinsky
An in-depth examination of representative works spanning Stravinsky's total creative output. Concentration on listening and analysis of representative works.
The Music of J.S. Bach
A study of the aesthetic and compositional bases of representative works of J.S. Bach, placing the music in a cultural, biographical, and musicological context.
Early Chamber Music of Arnold Schoenberg
Analysis of the early tonal and free atonal techniques in Schoenberg's pre-1923 compositions. Examinations of the causes and effects of preserial techniques in 20th-century composition.
Bart'ok's Chamber Music
Score analysis, discussion, and study of Bart'ok's principal chamber works. Comparison of formal characteristics, scoring, and compositional practices.
The Beethoven String Quartets
Comparative study and analysis of the principal Beethoven quartets. Relationship of the quartets to his work as a whole.
Traditional Composition Forms in the 20th Century 2
A continuation of the survey of forms. Sonata, rondo, simple ternary, and other forms are analyzed in detail and traced through the music of composers from the 18th century to the present day.
Traditional Composition Forms in the 20th Century 1
A comprehensive survey of the forms that originated in the Renaissance, baroque, and classical periods, and their development and use by composers of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Style Analysis of 20th-Century Music
Study of music from the early 20th century to the present. Examination of the development of mainstream serial, electronic, aleatoric, and experimental composition.
Style Analysis of Classical and Romantic Music
Analysis of representative works from the classical and romantic periods. Emphasis on compositional practice and stylistic distinction.
Dmitri Shostakovich: His Music and Life
This course combines historical, theoretical, and psychological aspects of research on the life of Dmitri Shostakovich and the majority of his works.