Welcome to UWSP's Music History page. This is a fairly new site, and it is still under construction; classes offered since Fall 1997 have active links. Eventually, there will be links to all Music History courses offered at the University, with descriptions, syllabi, and other pertinent course information. UWSP also offers a degree program in Music History and Literature. Click here to see the online catalog.

Why Study Music History?

In part, the answer to this question is the same as it would be to answer any question about the benefits of studying any kind of history. There is no substitute for the historical perspective. Historical perspective helps one understand why things are the way they are, and this is an important reason for study all by itself. But in addition to that, at UWSP we believe in taking a comprehensive approach to learning about music. The various music disciplines, music history, music theory, performance-related studies, and pedagogy, complement one another: for example, just as studying music theory enhances performance ability, studying music history assists in many areas: performance practice and other aspects of interpretation, understanding music from the perspective of its form, and even understanding the emotional content of the music. Knowledge of music history gives a basis for understanding music much more deeply. It is also important to understand the political and social landscape of a period to know how those factors influenced composers to write music as they did.

UWSP's Music History Program

UWSP offers a wide variey of music history courses. The picks below give information about courses recently or currently offered: course description, outline, syllabus, information on the instructor, and in some cases other information. You will find some sound files and many links to other sites. Enjoy browsing!

Course Offerings

If you have questions or comments about Music History at UWSP or these web pages, email Dr. Patricia Holland, Coordinator of Music History and Literature, atpholland@uwsp.edu