Mu 54 - History and Theory of 20th-Century Music

This course surveys significant developments in classical music of the 20th century. From the impressionism of Debussy and Ravel at the beginning of the century to the minimalism of Steve Reich and Philip Glass at the end, we will study how 20th-century composers sought to create new ways of constructing music, often trying to distance themselves from the traditions of the past. We will explore specific compositional techniques that produced strikingly new sounds and styles, as well as the intellectual and historical contexts that shaped their development. Course activities include reading, listening, musical analysis, and guided composition.