MUS 359: Music of the Americas
TR 12:01-1:15 PM + Discussion Section
Method of Instruction: REMOTE
The Americas is a broad geographic expanse covering a range of cultures that is impossible to cover in-depth in a single academic term. There are ideas, however, that can help us bring important aspects of these cultures together: colonialism, processes of cultural exchange, and modernity. We will study these ideas through the music and cultures of at least three countries in the Americas (Brazil, Mexico, and Peru). No musical experience is necessary, but students will be asked to think through listening examples to understand why different musics sound the way they do. While we focus on three regions, the ideas are applicable throughout the Americas. This course fulfills the AC (American Cultures) Multicultural Requirement.All course materials will be available on the course Canvas site.
MUS 452/552: Musical Instruments of the World
TR 10:00-11:50 AM
Method of Instruction: REMOTE
Musical instruments are tools that humans have created to shape their sound environments. They reflect the cultural values that communities of humans share. In this class, we will examine these tools, seeking to understand how they work: mechanically, aesthetically, and socially. We will also explore how and why scholars have studied musical instruments, even taking the time to build some. Questions include: why have some musical instruments become icons of a nation? How should we classify the vast number of instruments in the world? What does it mean for instruments to circulate around the world? Students will have the opportunity to research an instrument of their choice more thoroughly. This course fulfills the IC (International Cultures) Multicultural Requirement.
Reading or listening materials will be made available on the course Canvas site and may include authors like Max Peter Baumann, John Blacking, Cornelia Fales, and Mark Katz.
