MUSIC 326
MUSIC BEFORE 1600
Fall, 2005
COURSE
GOALS: The main goal of the class is to
develop an understanding of Western art music (and the precursors to Western
art music) during the period up to 1600 A.D. This includes understanding the purposes of music, being
able to describe the music in terms of its melody, harmony (if any), texture,
instrumentation and so on, and understanding the events of history which shaped
the music. Major musical style
traits will be studied and landmark or representative pieces will illustrate
the principles at work. Realizing
these goals will have the added benefit of shedding light on Western art music
of more recent periods.
WRITING
EMPHASIS: This is a
writing emphasis course. The
writing emphasis component of the class will involve several short writing
exercises and discussions as well as a larger paper. The goals of the writing
emphasis component of the course are to improve studentsÕ general writing
skills and to facilitate writing within the music discipline. ALL WRITING EMPHASIS ASSIGNMENTS MUST
BE COMPLETED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A GRADE.
Failure to complete writing emphasis assignments will result in a grade
of "incomplete."
TEXTS: The
following are available on text rental from the University Book Store:
Grout, Donald Jay.
A History of Western Music, fifth edition. New York: W.W. Norton, 1996.
Parrish, Carl, and John F. Ohl, eds. Masterpieces of
Music before 1600. New York:
W.W. Norton, 1951.
GRADES: Your
final grade will be determined by your performance on several evaluative
opportunities, below. Your
final grade may be lowered for excessive unexcused absences and tardiness.
Online
Quizzes 4
@ 25 points each, total 100 points
Writing
Assignments 6
@ varying points, total 100 points
Paper 80
points
Final
Exam 70
points
Total
Possible 350
Grade translations (minimum
points for each letter grade):
A
(93%) 326
A-
(90%) 315
B+
(87%) 305
B
(83%) 291
B-
(80%) 280
C+
(77%) 270
C
(73%) 256
C-
(70%) 245
D+
(66%) 231
D
(60%) 210
F less
than 210
ATTENDANCE: Attendance
is essential. Please be present
for every class and be on time. Missed
quizzes may only be made up with a written excuse from a physician. Excessive absence or frequent tardiness will result in a
lowering of your grade.
LISTENING: You
are responsible for familiarity with the music contained on the listening list
found in this syllabus. Recordings
of these compositions are available on compact discs at the reserve desk in the
library. Listening examples will
be on exams and/or separate quizzes.
You may be asked to identify examples and/or to write about some aspect
of the examples played on exams or quizzes. It is suggested that you listen to examples at the point in
the semester when they are discussed in class.
WEB
SITES: more course
information is available at http://www.uwsp.edu/music/pholland/326/index.htm.
You will also need to access Desire To Learn (ÒD2LÓ) at https://uwsp.courses.wisconsin.edu
Course Outline and Reading List
Reading
in Grout
Week 1 - Early Monophonic Music, Ancient Civilizations Chapter
1 (skim)
Week 2 - Early Christian Music, liturgy pp.
17-29
Week 3 - Gregorian Chant, early notation pp.
32-53
Week 4 - Early Secular Music pp.
53-70
Week 5 - Early Polyphony pp. 73-79
Week 6 - Organum, Discant Style, Rhythmic Modes pp.
79-89
Week 7 - Ars Antiqua pp.
89-97
Week 8 - Ars Nova pp.101-128
Week 9 - Late Middle Ages and Early Renaissance
Week 10 - The Fifteenth Century - Burgundian School Chapter
5
Week 11 - The Netherlanders Chapter 6
Week 12 - Instrumental Music and new forms
Week 13 - Late Renaissance, Madrigals Chapter
7
Week 14 - Reformation and Counter-Reformation Chapter
8
Week 15- Transition to Baroque Style, Review
FINAL EXAM Saturday December 17, 2005 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Class will not meet on
Alternative experiences will
be announced for these dates.