STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK at NEW PALTZ
Music Department
66332-01 Music of the Baroque & Classical Periods Dr. Ruthanne Schempf
Spring 2004 Office: CHG 108 Phone 257-2715
Monday & Wednesday Email: schempfr@newpaltz.edu
12:30 - 1:45 p.m. Office Hours: Monday 3:15 – 4:15
please make apppointment
Course Description
The music and society of this pivotal time span (1600 - 1827) shall be examined with special attention given to contributions of the greatest composers: Monteverdi, Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Bach, and Handel, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven
Text
1. Harold C. Schonberg. The Lives of the Great Composers. revised ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 1970.
2. Lecture notes. Purchase a large notebook and several pens and/or pencils. Use them!
3. Recordings. Additional CD or tape purchase is optional and independent.
Objectives
1. Acquire a listeners ear for a LARGE quantity of music from these style periods.
2. Understand the contributions by the most important composers.
3. Appreciation for social and political history as it pertains to music.
4. Analysis of selected major compositions in terms of form and identifiable style characteristics.
5. Development of writing and research skills by writing a term paper.
6. Development of presentation skills by either speaking or performing in class.
Course Requirements
1. Conscious Attendance is mandatory. More than 3 absences will result in a quality decrease in grade.
2. Listening identification will be a major feature of the course and there will be several listening quizzes. Students must learn to recognize (within 1 minute of random play) and identify specific music (name of piece and composer) from a series of tapes or CDs.
3. This is a writing intensive class. In addition to the term paper and presentation (outline and sources should be typed and handed in), there will be occasional short written assignments. One major homework assignment is the construction of a comparative time-line. Please submit a rough draft of your term paper two weeks before the due date if you wish to have constructive feedback.
4. All exam questions will be derived from lectures and the text. Student input regarding creation and discussion of essay exams is encouraged. There will be a review sheet provided a few days before each exam. Do not pad answers with restatements of the question. Incomplete sentences, Neanderthal carvings or Hieroglyphics are unacceptable. Thinking is highly encouraged!
5. Proper citation of sources is expected. Please consult a manual of style for the correct format.
6. If you are desperate or just highly motivated, you may write an extra credit paper. A paper or short lecture performance must demonstrate some original thinking on your part. Consult me before trotting to the library.
7. You may NOT be absent on exam days, without a valid excuse!
Grades
Homework writing assignments (P/F) 10%
4 Listening Quizzes 20%
Midterm Exam 20%
Final Exam 20%
Term Paper 20%
Class Presentation or Performance 10%
Listening Guidelines: The listening portion of the exams will be worth approximately 50% of the total points. A list of the selections will be provided in class. You must learn to be able to identify, within 1 random minute, the composer, work and performer for any piece on the list. Start listening soon!
Music of the Baroque & Classical Periods
Schedule of Topics Spring 2004
21 Jan Introductions, Characteristics of Baroque Music; Florentine Camerata
26 Jan Monteverdi, Carissimi & Oratorio, Schütz & the Thirty Years War
28 Jan Cantata, Venetian opera, Neapolitan opera: A. Scarlatti, Lully & Purcell
2 Feb Instrumental music: Froberger, Frescobaldi, Sweelinck Scheidt, Buxtehude, Pachelbel
4 Feb continued
9 Feb Clavier music: Couperin...Ensemble music: Marais
11 Feb Corelli, Vivaldi, Telemann
18 Feb Bach
23 Feb Bach, Handel
25 Feb Quiz/ Handel
1 Mar Pre-Classic leanings; Domenico Scarlatti, Rameau
3 Mar Listening Test, C.P.E. Bach
8 Mar Classical rumblings
10 Mar Midterm Exam
22 Mar Amadeus
24 Mar Beethoven lives upstairs
29 Mar Haydn
31 Mar Haydn
5 Apr Mozart’s childhood
7 Apr Mozart
12 Apr Gluck
14 Apr Marriage of Mozart
19 Apr Salieri & Hummel
21 Apr Beethoven
26 Apr Beethoven
28 Apr Beethoven
3 May Reviews & summaries
5 May Last Class MASSIVE REVIEW
Wednesday 12 May 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Final Exam
