GRMUS T641 — The American Symphony: Ives to Corigliano

2 credits
Fall
Wayne Oquin

This course focuses on some of the major American orchestral works of the 20th century, including notable symphonies, concertos, and works for large instrumental forces that have contributed significantly to music written today. Using photos of composer manuscripts, sketches, letters, and other primary source materials retrieved from the Library of Congress, many of which remain undigitized, the course delves deeply into the realm of compositional process as it relates uniquely to each composer. Lectures will apply basic and more advanced theoretical principles to music often neglected in general analytic studies. Works are covered in chronological order, retracing the development of American concert music from its Eurocentric beginnings to its wide-ranging influences including jazz, musical theatre, and film.