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History of American Music


Course Description

A survey of art and vernacular music traditions of the United States.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will conduct research on selected styles/traditions, give a public presentation, and submit an article (Chicago style) that meets publication standards for journals of musicology. A higher standard will be held for graduate students on written and aural examinations.


Athena Title

History of American Music


Undergraduate Prerequisite

MUSI 1100 and MUSI 1120


Graduate Prerequisite

MUSI 6160 and MUSI 6170


Semester Course Offered

Offered spring


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

The successful students will be able to demonstrate: * knowledge of historical and cultural issues that define and distinguish American music from other traditions; * ability to describe the contribution of individual composers and evaluate their influence on the evolution of American music; * abilty to trace the development of various styles and genres * ability to analyze changes in musical style in terms of the social conventions of each historical epoch.


Topical Outline

* Conceptual framework for the history of American music * Relationships between art and culture * Influences of oral traditions on the evolution of American vernacular and art music * Influence of selected American composers and their works * The art of musical criticism