MUS 452/552: Musical Instruments of the World
TR 10:00-11:50 AM
Location: Frohnmayer Music Building Room 167
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 is designed to fulfill the Global Perspectives category of the Cultural Literacy Core Education requirement.All reading and listening materials will be made available on the course Canvas site.