Aesthetics of 20th-Century Music

Professor: Huck Hodge, DMA Links to an external site. | hhodge@uw.edu 

TA: Jay Rauch | jayrauch@uw.edu

 

ABOUT THIS COURSE

This is a course on aesthetics. Aesthetics asks questions about value, e.g.:

“is this a good or bad piece of music/composer/musical style or practice”;

“what values are you basing this assessment on”;

“are those values objective/subjective, timeless/culturally determined, etc.?”

In short, we will ask, "why do the composers we look at approach music in the ways they do?"

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course has three main goals:

1. to explore the increasing plurality of artistic values and the techniques used to realize them in 20^th-century Western “classical” music;
2. to consider why things get so complicated/knotty (and naughty), why it seems that “anything goes” at a certain point in 20^th-century music;
3. to examine the ways that music sheds light on the (scientific, social, political, ethical, epistemic)  beliefs we might hold about the world more generally.

 

To this end, we will proceed from the following axiom:

Beliefs about how the world is (or should be) organized influence:

1) the choices that composers make about the sort of music they want to create,

2) the ways we evaluate the quality of that music,

3) the opinions we have about what counts as music at all, and

4) whose voice deserves to be heard.

 

REQUIRED READINGS 

Assigned readings are listed for each class session. Several readings will be drawn from these sources:

Kostka, Stefan (2012). Materials and Techniques of Post-Tonal Music.

                                    4th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Taruskin, Richard (2010). Oxford History of Western Music (OHWM), Vol. IV-V          

                                       Oxford: Oxford University Press

 

SCORES (download)

Score Packet Download Score Packet

 

EVALUATION

1. Assignments [60%] – Students will regularly be assigned specific exercises and analysis activities in preparation for the lectures. Many of these assignments will include a written component. The grading rubric for written assignments is included here: 303 writing rubric.pdf Download 303 writing rubric.pdf
2. Quizzes [10%] – Periodic quizzes will be given to evaluate comprehension and acquisition of specific skills and concepts. You will also be required to identify the repertoire we study by listening to excerpts.
3. Participation [5%] – Students will regularly be called on in class to respond to questions about the material under discussion. There will also be various activities (e.g., discussion forums, in-class performances) that will require student involvement. In general, I will first wait for volunteers to respond to questions/prompts. Failing this, I will use a random list generator to call on students. Provided you actually participate when prompted, you will receive full credit by default.
4. Final Project [25%] – The final project is in 2 parts: A larger-scale composition project and a 3-page theoretical statement (750 - 1000 words). Students may work alone or in groups of 2-4, and will be involved in the composition and performance of their pieces. The pieces must make use of some of the different techniques covered in the class. The theoretical statement should describe the ways in which your composition responds to the various aesthetic positions covered in class and demonstrate the techniques used to convey this response.

 

All students are expected to do their own original work. Any plagiarism will result in a grade of “F” for the course.

The chart for converting percentages to the 4.0 grade-point scale can be found here Download The chart for converting percentages to the 4.0 grade-point scale can be found here

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NOTE on ZOOM MEETINGS

I would very much appreciate it if you would "unmute" your cameras on Zoom. This helps me feel more like I'm talking to other humans and less like I'm talking to some monolithic abyss. It will also help me, via your facial expressions, to gauge which things from the lecture require more explanation, which things are painfully obvious, etc. 

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

This schedule of classes, readings, and assignments is subject to revision during the quarter.

Unless otherwise noted, readings should be completed before the class session in which they appear on the syllabus. Homework is due before the beginning of the indicated class session. 

 

1900 – 1945

9/30    Introduction, The limits of analysis

Read: Schoenberg, Brahms the Progressive, part XV (1947) Download Schoenberg, Brahms the Progressive, part XV (1947)

(finish by 10/2)

Jonathan Cross, ed., Music Analysis, 22/i-ii (2003), Editorial.pdf Download Jonathan Cross, ed., Music Analysis, 22/i-ii (2003), Editorial.pdf

(finish by 10/2)

Repertoire: Johannes Brahms, O Tod Links to an external site. || Arnold Schoenberg, No. 8 Night (Nacht) from Pierrot Lunaire Links to an external site.

Class resources: Brahms, O Tod (score) Download Brahms, O Tod (score)

 

10/2 (precept.) The limits of analysis (discussion)

 

10/5    Early atonality and expressionism

Read: Kostka, Nonserial Atonality (ch. 9: pp. 178–86 (required), 175-77 (optional)) Download Kostka, Nonserial Atonality (ch. 9: pp. 178–86 (required), 175-77 (optional))

Video Lesson: Pitch Class Links to an external site.

 

Repertoire: Schoenberg, No. 8 Night (Nacht) from Pierrot Lunaire Links to an external site.

HW: The limits of analysis response

Resources on Expressionist Art and Architecture:

Read: Taruskin, OHWM (Vol. IV, Ch 6 – “Motivicization” in Practice) Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.Repertoire: Bach/Webern, Ricercare from A Musical Offering Links to an external site. || Anton Webern, Op. 10 (Mvmt. I, III, IV) Links to an external site.

HW (due 10/9): Pitch class sets (Kostka Ch. 9)

Class resources: 10/4 class notes.pdf Download 10/4 class notes.pdf

 

 

10/12  Serialism: 12-tone techniques

Read: Kostka, Classical Serialism (ch. 10, excerpt) Download Kostka, Classical Serialism (ch. 10, excerpt)

Repertoire: Webern, Symphonie Op. 21 (Mvmt. I) Links to an external site.

HW: Kostka Ch 10 part 1— Row Forms

Class resources:  Webern Op 21 handout.pdf Download Webern Op 21 handout.pdf

Webern, op. 21 — opening canons Links to an external site.

Class session (zoom video) Links to an external site.

 

10/14  Serialism: 12-tone techniques

Read: Taruskin, OHWM (Vol. IV, Ch 12 – Epitome) Links to an external site.

Repertoire: Webern, Symphonie Op. 21 (Mvmt. I) Links to an external site.

HW: 12-tone matrix

Class resources: Webern Op 21 handout Download Webern Op 21 handout

Class session (zoom video) Links to an external site.

 

10/19  The end of time

Read: Messiaen, excerpts from Technique de mon langage musical.pdf Download Messiaen, excerpts from Technique de mon langage musical.pdf

Repertoire: Olivier Messiaen, Quatuor pour la fin du temps, mvmt I Links to an external site.

HW: Messiaen — Technique de mon langage musical | Reading and Study Questions

Class resources: Powerpoint: Messiaen.pptx  Download Messiaen.pptx 

| Notes on Metaphysics in Messiaen.pdf Download Notes on Metaphysics in Messiaen.pdf

 

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

 

AFTER 1945

10/21  Total serialism

Read: Taruskin, OHWM (Vol. V, Ch 1): Fixations Links to an external site. || "Total Serialism" Links to an external site. || Solace in Ritual Links to an external site.

Repertoire: Messiaen, Mode de valuers et d’intensités Links to an external site. || Pierre Boulez, Structures, Bk. 2, #1 Links to an external site. || Karlheinz Stockhausen, Kreuzspiel Links to an external site.

Class resources: Messiaen Mode de valuers / Boulez Structures Handout.pdf Download Messiaen Mode de valuers / Boulez Structures Handout.pdf

 

HW (due 11/2): Total Serial Composition  

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

 

10/26   Total serialism

Read: New Developments in Serialism (#153)

Adorno, excerpt from The Aging of New Music || Boulez, Schoenberg is Dead  Download Adorno, excerpt from The Aging of New Music || Boulez, Schoenberg is Dead 

(finish by 10/28)

Repertoire: Stockhausen, Kreuzspiel Links to an external site.

Class resources: Kreuzspiel.pptx Download Kreuzspiel.pptx

 || Kreuzspiel graphs.pdf Download Kreuzspiel graphs.pdf

HW (due 11/2): Total Serial Composition

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

 

10/28  Post-war aesthetics and a critique of serialism

Read: New Developments in Serialism (#153)

Adorno, excerpt from The Aging of New Music  ||  Boulez, Schoenberg is Dead Download Adorno, excerpt from The Aging of New Music  ||  Boulez, Schoenberg is Dead

Watch: Jonathan Meades, BBC Documentary on Brutalist Architechture

HW: Reading/Viewing assignment (Adorno, Boulez and Brutalist Architecture)

Class resources: Powerpoint: Adorno / Serialism Download Adorno / Serialism

 || notes on Dialectic of Enlightenment.pdf Download notes on Dialectic of Enlightenment.pdf

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

 

11/2  Dada and the Absurd, Noise and Silence

Read: Kostka - Chapter 14.pdf Download Kostka - Chapter 14.pdf

Cage, Experimental Music Download Cage, Experimental Music

Begin Reading (finish by 11/9): George Lewis, excerpts from Improvised Music After 1950: Eurological and Afrological Perspectives Download George Lewis, excerpts from Improvised Music After 1950: Eurological and Afrological Perspectives

 || Taruskin, No Ear for Music: the Scary Purity of John Cage Download Taruskin, No Ear for Music: the Scary Purity of John Cage

Repertoire: John Cage, Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (#5) Links to an external site. || 4' 33" Links to an external site. || Music of Changes Links to an external site.

John Cale, I've Got a Secret / Vexations by Erik Satie Links to an external site.

Class resources: Powerpoint: Adorno / Dada / Cage

HW:Total Serial Composition

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

 

11/4    Indeterminate music

Read: Kostka - Chapter 14.pdf Download Kostka - Chapter 14.pdf

Cage, Experimental Music Download Cage, Experimental Music

Lewis, excerpt from Improvised Music After 1950: Eurological and Afrological Perspectives Download Lewis, excerpt from Improvised Music After 1950: Eurological and Afrological Perspectives

(finish by 11/9)

Taruskin, No Ear for Music: the Scary Purity of John Cage Download Taruskin, No Ear for Music: the Scary Purity of John Cage

(finish by 11/9)

Repertoire: Boulez, Luciano Berio, Morton Feldman, Stockhausen 

Class resources: Powerpoint: Indeterminacy.pptx Download Indeterminacy.pptx

 

Documentary: From Zero Links to an external site.

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

 

11/9    Chance and improvisation, a critique of Cage

Read: Lewis, excerpt from Improvised Music After 1950: Eurological and Afrological Perspectives Download Lewis, excerpt from Improvised Music After 1950: Eurological and Afrological Perspectives

(finish by 11/9)

Taruskin, No Ear for Music: the Scary Purity of John Cage Download Taruskin, No Ear for Music: the Scary Purity of John Cage

(finish by 11/9)

HW: Aleatoric Composition 

Class session (zoom video) Links to an external site.

 

11/16  Process music and minimalism I

Read: Steve Reich, Music as a Gradual Process, Download Steve Reich, Music as a Gradual Process,

Taruskin, OHWM (Vol. V, Ch 8): "Classical Minimalism" Links to an external site.

Mother Jones: How Steve Reich Made Music Out of White Complicity Links to an external site.

Wall Street Journal: Kwame Anthony Appiah, Links to an external site.Cultural Borrowing Is Great; The Problem Is Disrespect Links to an external site. | (pdf file) Download pdf file)

Repertoire: Steve Reich, Pendulum Music, Come Out Links to an external site. || Links to an external site.Pendulum Music Links to an external site.

Pauline Oliveros, Klickitat Ride Download Klickitat Ride

|| Deep Listening Meditations: Egypt Download Deep Listening Meditations: Egypt

James Tenney, Having never written a note for percussion Links to an external site.|| Frederic Rzewski, Les moutons de Panurge Links to an external site.

La Monte Young, Compositions 1960 #7 Links to an external site.

Class resources: Powerpoint: Minimalism.pptx Download Minimalism.pptx

HW: Lewis or Taruskin Article — response

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

 

11/18  Process music and minimalism II

Julius Eastman (contains potentially troubling language) 

Read: Lewis, "Foreword". Gay Guerrilla: Julius Eastman and His Music, edited by René Levine Packer and Mary Jane Leach (pp. vi-xiv only) Download "Foreword". Gay Guerrilla: Julius Eastman and His Music, edited by René Levine Packer and Mary Jane Leach (pp. vi-xiv only)

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

 

11/23  Timbre and Texture

Read: Taruskin, OHWM (Vol. V, Ch 4): Permission Links to an external site. || Renaissance or Co-optation? Links to an external site.

Repertoire: Iannis Xenakis, Metastaseis Links to an external site. || Krzysztof Penderecki, Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima Links to an external site.

Ruth Crawford, String Quartet, mvmt. III Download String Quartet, mvmt. III

2001: A Space Odyssey, monolith (Ligeti's Requiem, micropolyphony) Links to an external site.

Powerpoint: Xenakis.pptx Download Xenakis.pptx

HW: Minimalism, race, and cultural appropriation (extra credit assignment)

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.

 

11/25  Process + Texture: Nancarrow

Read: Kyle Gann, The Music of Conlon Nancarrow, The music: general considerations Download Kyle Gann, The Music of Conlon Nancarrow, The music: general considerations

(read pp. 19-28: Tempo canon and its formal results)

Repertoire: Conlon Nancarrow, Studies for player piano (#21 & #36) Links to an external site.

(the Studies are not in numerical order on this recording)

Josquin - missa l'homme arme super voces musicales: agnus dei II Download Josquin - missa l'homme arme super voces musicales: agnus dei II

HW: Process piece composition (extra credit)

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.

 

11/30  Spectralism

Read: Tristan Murail, Spectra and Sprites Links to an external site.(optional reading)

Repertoire: Gerard Grisey, Les espaces acoustique: Partiels Links to an external site. || Tristan Murail, Désintégrations Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.Grisey, Partiels (1st section).pdf Download Grisey, Partiels (1st section).pdf

Perfect 5th: rhythm becomes pitch Download Perfect 5th: rhythm becomes pitchPlay media comment.

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

 

12/2  Spectralism

Begin Reading: Cobussen, Music and Spirituality: 13 Meditations around George Crumb's Black Angels Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.Cobussen endnotes.pdf Download Cobussen endnotes.pdf

(finish by 12/9)

Repertoire: Jonathan Harvey, Mortuos Plango, Vivos Voco Links to an external site. || Huck Hodge, Time is the substance I am made of (in memoriam Jonathan Harvey) Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.Time is the substance I am made of Download Time is the substance I am made of

(score)

Class resources: Bell spectrum Download Bell spectrum / Bell spectrum (pitch) Download Bell spectrum (pitch) || Formant region - aa Download Formant region - aa / Formants (Spectrogram) Download Formants (Spectrogram) || Mortuos Plango, Vivos Voco (score) Download Mortuos Plango, Vivos Voco (score)

 || Perotín Alleluia Nativitas (score) Download Perotín Alleluia Nativitas (score)

 

12/7    Postmodernism

Read: Cobussen, Music and Spirituality: 13 Meditations around George Crumb's Black Angels Links to an external site.Cobussen endnotes.pdf Download Cobussen endnotes.pdf

(finish by 12/10)

Repertoire: George Crumb, Black Angels Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.Class resources: Modernity/Postmodernity (handout) Download Modernity/Postmodernity (handout)

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.

 

12/9    Postmodernism

Read: Cobussen, Music and Spirituality: 13 Meditations around George Crumb's Black Angels Links to an external site. Links to an external site.Cobussen endnotes.pdf Download Cobussen endnotes.pdf

Repertoire: Crumb, Black Angels Links to an external site.

Links to an external site.HW: Cobussen Response (Black Angels - G. Crumb)

Class session (video) Links to an external site.

 

12/16 Final Projects

Presentations (video) Links to an external site.