| Russian Soul through Music |
Liberal Arts |
3008 (001) |
Spring 2027 |
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Description
What does it mean to be Russian? What is the Russian mission, and how does it fit into the world? What defines true Russia? These questions have engaged the minds of Russian artists since Peter the Great introduced European ideas to the young Slavic nation in 1698. This course will explore Russia as a complex entity held together by the subtle threads of its native sensibility. We will examine Russian cultural history through various creative works, such as Stravinsky¿s *The Rite of Spring*, as well as artifacts ranging from folk embroidery to the musical traditions of peasant songs. These artifacts will not only represent art but also reveal ideologies and beliefs that embody the essence of a nation. They will demonstrate how art and music are intertwined with politics, customs, beliefs, folklore, habits, and mental landscapes, all of which are potent forces shaping culture.
Examples of Russian music, both classical and folk, ( recordings and Youtube examples), Russian operas and ballets, musicals, folk dances and cinematography; excepts from Russian literature, diaries, plays.
Two exams: the Midterm and the final exam.
1. Assigned music to listen to every week, and about 20 pages to read.
or 2. Excerpts from operas and musicals to watch, and about 20 pages to read.
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Class Number
2252
Credits
3
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| Western Music: Medieval To Mozart |
Liberal Arts |
3210 (001) |
Spring 2027 |
|
Description
This course surveys over 2,000 years of music in Western civilization. Historical, cultural, and social contexts are studied as they pertain to the music. After an introduction to the Greeks (8th century BCE), music such as medieval chants, motets, Renaissance masses, madrigals, Baroque concertos, operas, and Classical symphonies (ca. up to 1800) are studied. Lectures trace the changes from vocal to instrumental practices with closer looks at some representative period instruments. Biographies are used to demonstrate social, educational and geo-political changes, which shaped the final results of composers' creativity: music. European musical centers -- Paris, Venice, and Vienna -- and their musical establishments receive special attention. Students learn a macro-level music vocabulary and are encouraged to use it in their discourse. Each lecture is structured around a composition that exemplifies the most salient features of a particular period. Listening and reading is required before each lecture. Students are assigned two short essays (6 pages each) as well as a midterm and a final exam that focus on listening skills and understanding/usage of music vocabulary.
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Class Number
2156
Credits
3
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| Top: Sights and Sounds of Eastern Europe |
Liberal Arts |
3252 (001) |
Summer 2026 |
|
Description
Standard textbooks of European music have long emphasized their commitment towards studying the Western part of the continent. When it comes to the eastern region of the mainland, no such textbook exists. The scholarly marginalization of Eastern Europe's cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity contributes to negligence and underappreciation of the region. The purpose of this course is to examine the history and arts at several sites in this region and to listen to its music. Through this approach, we will examine cultural identities such as Greek, Byzantine, Slavic, Eastern Orthodox, Russian, Jewish, Ottoman, and Romani. We will visit historical and contemporary sites such as Kaliningrad, Kiev, Cracow, Prague, Budapest, Istanbul, Zagreb, and Ljubljana. We will also listen to 'classical' music of Romanians, Poles, Russians, and Hungarians as well as to 'folk' music from Transylvania, the Balkans, and the Baltic states. The music repertoire of this course spans from medieval Polish and Hungarian manuscripts to the late 20th-century Estonian (Arvo Part) and Russian (Sofia Gubaidulina) composers.
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Class Number
1306
Credits
3
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| Top: Sights and Sounds of Eastern Europe |
Liberal Arts |
3252 (002) |
Fall 2026 |
|
Description
Standard textbooks of European music have long emphasized their commitment towards studying the Western part of the continent. When it comes to the eastern region of the mainland, no such textbook exists. The scholarly marginalization of Eastern Europe's cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity contributes to negligence and underappreciation of the region. The purpose of this course is to examine the history and arts at several sites in this region and to listen to its music. Through this approach, we will examine cultural identities such as Greek, Byzantine, Slavic, Eastern Orthodox, Russian, Jewish, Ottoman, and Romani. We will visit historical and contemporary sites such as Kaliningrad, Kiev, Cracow, Prague, Budapest, Istanbul, Zagreb, and Ljubljana. We will also listen to 'classical' music of Romanians, Poles, Russians, and Hungarians as well as to 'folk' music from Transylvania, the Balkans, and the Baltic states. The music repertoire of this course spans from medieval Polish and Hungarian manuscripts to the late 20th-century Estonian (Arvo Part) and Russian (Sofia Gubaidulina) composers.
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Class Number
2137
Credits
3
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