Cultural analysis of composers’ settings and stylistic analysis of compositions of the Middles Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Topics include Gregorian chant, the origins of polyphony, the development of vocal and instrumental genres, and the works of such central composers as Machaut, Josquin, Monteverdi, and Bach.
(This course, MS 401, is offered for 3 credits. MS 401A is offered for 4 credits and requires an additional paper and occasional extended meeting times.)
Prerequisites:
Music major or equivalent skills in analysis and listening
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students should have an understanding of musical developments of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, and be able to place these developments within a wider historical, cultural, and aesthetic context.
Method of presentation:
Lectures and discussions
Required work and form of assessment:
Reading, writing, and listening assignments for each lecture are listed below. CDs of the required listening and copies of the required readings are on reserve in the library. There will be a midterm and a final exam as well as two listening quizzes. Students will also be given journal assignments. The course is graded as follows:
class participation, Study Guide 20%
listening quizzes (2 x 10%) 20%
midterm exam 25%
journals 10%
final exam 25%
content:
The following is a list of class meetings by week giving topics, major works, readings, and listening assignments. For full reference on the readings, see the Required Readings list below.
16. Opera in the late 17th century
Listening: NAWM 77, 79, 82
Reading: HWM 353-366, 372-376, 384-391; WT # 53, 54, 61-63
17. 17th- century instrumental music
Listening: NAWM 74; D'Anglebert, Pièces de clavecin: Suite no.3 in d minor
Reading: HWM 344-352, 366-372; WT #58, 59, 64
19. Bach
Listening: NAWM 88, 89; Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 in F major
Reading: HWM 428-457; WT # 70-72
20. Händel
Listening: NAWM 92
Reading: HWM 457-471; WT # 68, 69
Final draft of term paper due
21. Listening quiz II
22. Final exam
Required readings:
Burkholder, J. Peter, Donald J. Grout, and Claude V. Palisca. A History of Western Music. 7th ed. New York: Norton, 2006. (HWM)
Burkholder, J. Peter and Claude V. Palisca. Norton Anthology of Western Music, Vol. II. 5th ed. New York: Norton, 2006. (NAWM)
Burkholder, J. Peter and Jennifer L. King. Student & Listening Guide for a History of Western Music. New York: Norton, 2006.
Turabian, Kate. A Manual for Writers. 6th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.
Weiss, Piero and Richard Taruskin. Music in the Western World: A History in Documents. New York: Schirmer, 1984.
Recommended readings:
Blume, Friedrich. Renaissance and Baroque Music. New York: Norton, 1967.
Bukofzer, Manfred. Music of the Baroque Era. London: Dent, 1947.
Grout, Donald Jay. A Short History of Opera. Columbia University Press, 1969.
Landon, H. C. Robbins. Vivaldi: Voice of the Baroque. London: Thames and Hudson, 1993.
Brief Biography of Instructor:
John Moraitis earned a Ph.D in Musicology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His teaching experience includes courses in Music History, Music Theory, Music Appreciation, and Piano at the University of Georgia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as private harpsichord lessons and master classes on Baroque performance practice. Current research areas include twentieth-century Modernism and Baroque performance practice. He has been teaching at IES Vienna since 2004.
Cultural analysis of composers’ settings and stylistic analysis of compositions of the Middles Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Topics include Gregorian chant, the origins of polyphony, the development of vocal and instrumental genres, and the works of such central composers as Machaut, Josquin, Monteverdi, and Bach.
(This course, MS 401, is offered for 3 credits. MS 401A is offered for 4 credits and requires an additional paper and occasional extended meeting times.)
Music major or equivalent skills in analysis and listening
By the end of the course, students should have an understanding of musical developments of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, and be able to place these developments within a wider historical, cultural, and aesthetic context.
Lectures and discussions
Reading, writing, and listening assignments for each lecture are listed below. CDs of the required listening and copies of the required readings are on reserve in the library. There will be a midterm and a final exam as well as two listening quizzes. Students will also be given journal assignments. The course is graded as follows:
The following is a list of class meetings by week giving topics, major works, readings, and listening assignments. For full reference on the readings, see the Required Readings list below.
1. Course Introduction
2. Gregorian chant
Listening: NAWM 3, 4
Reading: HWM 29-39, 43-46, 50-70; WT # 12
3. Secular music
Listening: NAWM 9-11
Reading: HWM 71-86; WT # 13, 15
4. Notre Dame Polyphony: Leonin and Perotin; Motet
Listening: NAWM 16, 17, 19, 22
Reading: HWM 87-111; WT # 16
5. Ars nova: Machaut; Ars Subtilior
Listening: NAWM 24-26
Reading: HWM 116-145; WT # 17, 18, 20
6. The Renaissance; Dufay; Polyphonic Mass
Listening: NAWM 34, 36
Reading: HWM 147-189; WT # 21, 22
7. The Renaissance: Josquin
Listening: NAWM 39, 40
Reading: HWM 190-192, 202-209; WT # 26
8. Madrigal and song
Listening: NAWM 52-54
Reading: HWM 240-263; WT # 38, 39
Term paper proposal due
9. Instrumental music of the Renaissance
Listening: NAWM 58, 61
Reading: HWM 264-285; WT # 42
10. Reformation; Counter-Reformation: Palestrina
Listening: NAWM 42, 45, 46
Reading: HWM 211-218, 224-234; WT # 27, 29, 36, 37
11. Listening quiz I
12. Midterm exam
13. Defining the Baroque; early opera
Listening: NAWM 63, 64
Reading: HWM 287-316; WT # 43, 44, 46
First draft of term paper due
14. Monteverdi
Listening: NAWM 66, 68
Reading: HWM 316-331; WT # 45, 47
15. Venetian school
Listening: NAWM 69, 70, 73
Reading: HWM 331-342; WT # 51
16. Opera in the late 17th century
Listening: NAWM 77, 79, 82
Reading: HWM 353-366, 372-376, 384-391; WT # 53, 54, 61-63
17. 17th- century instrumental music
Listening: NAWM 74; D'Anglebert, Pièces de clavecin: Suite no.3 in d minor
Reading: HWM 344-352, 366-372; WT #58, 59, 64
18. Ensemble music; Vivaldi
Listening: NAWM 83, 85
Reading: HWM 391-400, 415-418, 422-429; WT # 60, 65
19. Bach
Listening: NAWM 88, 89; Brandenburg Concerto no. 2 in F major
Reading: HWM 428-457; WT # 70-72
20. Händel
Listening: NAWM 92
Reading: HWM 457-471; WT # 68, 69
Final draft of term paper due
21. Listening quiz II
22. Final exam
John Moraitis earned a Ph.D in Musicology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His teaching experience includes courses in Music History, Music Theory, Music Appreciation, and Piano at the University of Georgia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as private harpsichord lessons and master classes on Baroque performance practice. Current research areas include twentieth-century Modernism and Baroque performance practice. He has been teaching at IES Vienna since 2004.