Music

Associate Professor Galm, Chair; Professors Moshell, Platoff, and Woldu∙; Assistant Professor Román∙∙; College Organist, Director of Chapel Music and Adjunct Professor of Music Ex Officio Rose; Music Staff Accompanist and Instructor Melson; Visiting Lecturer Allen; and Instrumental Ensembles Coordinator Curran

The major in music—Thirteen courses, with grades of C- or better, are required. Students may choose either the general music major or one of three specialized tracks: American popular music, ethnomusicology/world music, or musical theater.

For all music majors, the following core of courses is required:

MUSC 113. World Music
MUSC 201. Diatonic Harmonic Practice
MUSC 202. Chromatic Harmonic Practice
MUSC 311. The History of Western Music I
MUSC 312. The History of Western Music II
MUSC 313. Music of the 20th Century
A 400-level senior exercise (senior recital, project, thesis, presentation, or seminar)

In addition, there are specialized requirements for the general music major and for each of three optional tracks.

General music major
- Four elective courses in music, at least one from any one of the following categories:
  - Topics in world music: MUSC 214, 215, 216
  - Topics in popular music: MUSC 117, 218, 224, 272, 274
  - Music in culture and society: MUSC 150, 224
- At least four semesters of participation in department performance courses
- MUSC 420. Advanced Topics in Music History
American popular music track
- MUSC 218. American Popular Music
- MUSC 224. Music of Black American Women
- MUSC 274. Jazz: 1900 to the Present
- One American studies course, 200 level or higher, approved in advance by the student’s adviser
- At least four semesters of participation in department performance courses
Ethnomusicology/world music track
- MUSC 222. Investigating Music and Culture
- One other course in ethnomusicology
- One course in anthropology, approved in advance by the student’s adviser
- One course in a relevant geographical or cultural area, approved in advance by the student’s adviser
- At least four semesters of participation in MUSC 111. World Music Ensemble
- A 400-level ethnomusicology-based senior project or thesis
Musical theater track
- MUSC 272. Contemporary Musical Theater
- MUSC 218. American Popular Music or MUSC 274. Jazz: 1900 to the Present
- One course in acting, approved in advance by the student’s adviser
- One course in dance technique, approved in advance by the student’s adviser
- Participation in one musical theater production in each of four different semesters by means of enrollment in MUSC 119

All music majors must work closely with their adviser to arrange for a proper choice of electives and sequencing of courses. Students contemplating the major should, if possible, take MUSC 101 in the first year; MUSC 201, 202, and 311 in the sophomore year; and MUSC 312 and 313 in the junior year.

Credit for musical performance will be granted in the following courses: MUSC 102, 105, 107, 109, 111, 119, and 407. All these except the last invite repeated enrollment; simultaneous enrollment in these courses may not exceed one course credit. No more than two course credits in musical performance may be counted toward fulfillment of the credit-requirement for the major in music (MUSC 407 is not subject to this restriction).

The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by one of the following courses:

MUSC 222. Investigating Music and Culture
MUSC 224. The Music of Black American Women
MUSC 311. The History of Western Music I
MUSC 312. The History of Western Music II

Cognate courses—Because of the diversity inherent in the discipline, study, and practice of music, it is difficult to isolate specific courses or areas as being preferentially cognate. For example, those students interested in music’s relations to other performing arts would be directed towards courses in theater and dance; those concerned with music as a force in society might consider courses in anthropology, educational studies, or international studies; those fascinated by music’s acoustical properties or its application to computers should investigate courses in physics, mathematics, or engineering; those pursuing liturgy-related studies should seek courses in religion. Appropriate cognate courses should be determined in consultation with the adviser at the time a student decides to declare the major.

Particularly helpful to any music major’s curriculum would be an understanding of foreign languages (especially Spanish, German, French, Italian, or Latin) and a basic grounding in world history.

Honors—Honors in music are awarded based on distinguished performance in the major, as evaluated by the entire music faculty.

The minor in music

The minor in music is designed to introduce students to a range of topics in music that includes the fundamentals of music theory as well as traditions in world, Western, and American popular music. Students who elect the minor in music will also perform in one of the department’s numerous ensembles for at least two semesters.

The minor consists of six courses:

One course in music practices and musicianship (MUSC 101 or 201)
One course in music history and literature or repertoire and listening (MUSC 121, 264, 266)
One course in music’s intersection with culture, class, gender, or politics (MUSC 113, 150, 215, 218, 219, 223, 224, 274)
Two elective courses in the department, approved by the chair
Two semesters of performance activities.

Students may pursue a track in either world music or American popular music within the minor. The track in world music consists of the following courses: MUSC 101 or 201; MUSC 121, 264, or 266; MUSC 113; two among MUSC 215, 219, 221, and 222; and two semesters of performance in a world music ensemble. The track in American popular music consists of the following courses: MUSC 101 or 201; MUSC 121, 264, or 266; MUSC 218, 224, and 274; and two semesters of performance activities.

Fall Term

101. Basic Musicianship— An introduction to the melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic structure of tonal music, with the emphasis on the development of a chordal vocabulary equally adaptable to classical and popular music. A required weekly practicum will stress ear-training (recognition of intervals, chords, rhythms, etc.) and its practical applications at the keyboard. Prerequisite for Music 201, may not be counted toward the major in music. (1.25 course credits) (Enrollment limited)-Melson, Roman

102. Trinity College Choir— The Trinity College Choir performs varied and challenging choral repertoire, in concert, each semester. Singers will also work on vocal techniques and related musicianship. Membership is by permission of instructor. (0.5 course credit)-Rose

105. Instrumental Ensemble— Chamber ensembles are formed at the beginning of the semester to study and perform works from the classical repertoire. Permission is required; entrance by audition only. Every effort is made to group students with others at the same skill level. (0.5 course credit) (Enrollment limited)-Curran

107. Lessons— Individual instruction in voice or an instrument is offered by teachers invited to the College campus; credit may also be granted for lessons taken from outside teachers who have been approved by the coordinator. Lessons require an extra fee. Fees for Lessons are $600 for eleven one-hour lessons, payable directly to the instructor. Financial aid to cover instructors’ fees is available on a limited basis to Trinity Grant students. Decisions on grant awards will be made on Friday of the first week of classes. Prerequisite: Music 101, which may be taken concurrently, and permission of the coordinator. (0.5 course credit)-Kennedy

109. Jazz Ensemble— The Jazz Ensemble performs several times each year. Permission is required; membership is by audition. (0.5 course credit) (Enrollment limited)-Allen

111. Samba Ensemble— Study and performance of Brazilian samba music. Emphasis is on the samba drumming tradition. Related musical styles and musical genres are also included. Previous performance experience is not required, and students may take this course for more than one semester. Membership by audition and permission of the instructor. Also listed under international studies/Latin American and Caribbean. (0.5 course credit) (Enrollment limited)-Galm

113. Introduction to World Music— A comprehensive survey of global traditions, including village and urban music and dance of Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, classical and contemporary music of India, the Far East, Asia, and indigenous traditions of the Americas. This course is designed to highlight the central role of musical expression in human life, exploring musical sound and movement in sacred, secular, ritual, and non-ritual contexts. No previous musical knowledge is required. Students are expected to learn basic listening skills and identify musical styles. The course culminates in a final research project about a world music tradition, ensemble, performer, or other related topic. Also listed in international studies-African studies, international studies-Asian studies, and international studies-Latin American and Caribbean studies. (Enrollment limited)-Galm

119. Musical-Theater Production— For departmental musical-theater productions, students may enroll on a show-by-show basis at the beginning of the show’s production process. To do so, contact the department chair. Offered only pass/fail. (0.25 course credit) (Enrollment limited)-Moshell

[150. Women in Music]— A broad survey of the music and music-making traditions of European and North American women from antiquity to the present. We explore the work and lives of women active as composers and performers in a range of genres, including the classical traditions, blues, jazz, and hip hop. No previous training or experience in music is required. (Enrollment limited)

[164. Mozart and 18th-Century Music]— An introduction to the life and music of Wolfgang Amadè Mozart (1756-1791). The course will also examine other composers of Mozart’s time, and consider the relationship between Mozart’s music and the main themes of Enlightenment thought in the 18th century. No previous training in music is required. (Enrollment limited)

200. Composition— Individual projects in free composition, with emphasis on acquiring and developing techniques of musical form and balance. When possible, student compositions will be performed. Prerequisite: Music 101 or permission of the instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Roman

201. Diatonic Harmonic Practice— Study of the harmonic practices of the 18th and 19th centuries, through exercises and the analysis of typical works. An intensive course with integrated practicum sessions, which focus on the development of skills in sight-singing, dictation, and keyboard proficiency, and written exercises modeled after those works. Prerequisite: Music 101 or equivalent preparation. (1.5 course credits) (Enrollment limited)-Melson, Roman

[210. Great Orchestral Music From the 18th, 19th, and 20th Centuries]— This course will be a survey of great orchestral compositions–primarily symphonies and concertos–from Bach, Handel, and Mozart of the 18th century; to Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and others of the 19th century; to Debussy, Stravinsky, Bartok and others of the 20th century. The focus will be on concentrated listening to recordings of the works, but there will also be reading and comment on such matters as form, style, orchestration, and historical context. No previous training in music is needed. (Enrollment limited)

[219. Toca Brasil! (Play Brazil!)]— An interactive survey of Brazilian music. A comprehensive exploration of Brazilian music, this course will present an integrated approach through hands-on performance of Brazilian percussion music, combined with academic study of Afro-Brazilian culture, religion, and dance. Beginning with an overview of traditional Brazilian forms of musical expression, we will then analyze how these forms were incorporated into popular musical styles in the 1960s and 1970s. In recent years, fusions of new styles derived from traditional Brazilian and non-Brazilian music have emerged that reflect contemporary processes of globalization. The multi-faceted approach to be integrated into this course will include hands-on musical performance, readings, and audio/video recordings. No previous experience in music is required. Also listed under international studies-Latin American and Caribbean studies. (Enrollment limited)

[224. Music of Black American Women]— A broad survey of the music of black American women, focusing on the women of Motown and the jazz singers of the 1950s. No previous training in music is required. Also listed under American studies and women, gender, and sexuality. (Enrollment limited)

[234. Protests in Music]— This course examines the ways in which social and political issues are expressed in music. We will look at music written, composed, and performed in Paris, Harlem, and Hartford in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, and explore the ramifications of the social and political issues for the music. Topics to be covered include: the music of the French Revolution; music of urban black America, 1960 to the present; Hector Berlioz, Ludwig van Beethoven, Claude Debussy, and “protests” in classical music. No previous experience in music is required. (Enrollment limited)

266. Beethoven: His Life and Music— An introduction to the life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven, who after more than 200 years is still the most loved and admired of all composers of classical music. This course will focus both on Beethoven’s masterpieces—his symphonies, piano sonatas, string quartets, and other works—and on the effect they had on audiences and the musicians who tried to follow in Beethoven’s footsteps. No previous training in music is required. (Enrollment limited)-Platoff

312. The History of Western Music II— An intensive survey of the development of musical style in Europe and the United States through the analysis of selected works from the mid-18th century to about 1900. Composers to be studied include Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Verdi, Brahms, and Mahler. Prerequisite: C- or Better in Music 202. (Enrollment limited)-Platoff

399. Independent Study— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chair are required for enrollment. (0.5-2 course credit) -Staff

466. Teaching Assistantship— Submission of a the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chair are required for enrollment. (0.5-1 course credit) -Staff

Spring Term

109. Jazz Ensemble— The Jazz Ensemble performs several times each year. Permission is required; membership is by audition. (0.5 course credit) (Enrollment limited)-Allen

[113. Introduction to World Music]— A comprehensive survey of global traditions, including village and urban music and dance of Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, classical and contemporary music of India, the Far East, Asia, and indigenous traditions of the Americas. This course is designed to highlight the central role of musical expression in human life, exploring musical sound and movement in sacred, secular, ritual, and non-ritual contexts. No previous musical knowledge is required. Students are expected to learn basic listening skills and identify musical styles. The course culminates in a final research project about a world music tradition, ensemble, performer, or other related topic. Also listed in international studies-African studies, international studies-Asian studies, and international studies-Latin American and Caribbean studies.This course has a community learning component. (Enrollment limited)

121. Exploring Music— A course in music appreciation, stressing the development of skills in listening to and recognizing music from a variety of historical periods, from the medieval era to the present day. An introduction to the principles of musical notation will precede the stylistic survey. No previous knowledge of music is required. This course cannot be counted toward the music major. (Enrollment limited)-Woldu

[197. Music Arranging]— This course is intended to prepare the student in the area of vocal, choral, and ensemble arranging through the study of harmony, stylistic considerations, and musicalization. We will also explore model songs and compositions, and listen to popular hits of the last few decades, from Gospel, to Hip-hop, to Pop Rock, to opera choruses, to Broadway musicals and much more. This is a creative, hands-on course. Students will undertake regular projects, arranging music in incremental exercises, and will eventually be given the chance to work on their favorite songs and compositions. We expect to culminate the semester with a public concert to showcase the class final projects. Prerequisite: Music 101 or equivalent preparation. (Enrollment limited)

[202. Chromatic Harmonic Practice]— Further study of the harmonic practices of the 18th and 19th centuries, through exercises and the analysis of typical works. Weekly practicum sessions focus on the consolidation of skills in sight singing, dictation, and keyboard proficiency. Simultaneous enrollment in the one-hour practicum is required. Prerequisite: Music 201 or permission of instructor. (1.25 course credits) (Enrollment limited)

[207. Conducting and Orchestration]— Introduction to choral and orchestral conducting, supplemented by both practical and theoretical exercises in orchestration. Ability to read music is essential; background in music theory, though helpful, is not necessary. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

[208L. Electronic MIDI and Computer Music]— This course is intended for music students who want to acquire skills in the creation and production of modern electronic music through the use of computer hardware and software, including the incorporation of MIDI sequencing, electronic score editing, basic audio recording and mixing procedures, and audio sampling editing and manipulation. Prerequisite: Music 101 or permission of the instructor. (Enrollment limited)

[215. Topics in World Music: Music of Latin America and the Caribbean]— Historical processes of colonization, slavery, and underdevelopment have led to a huge diversity of musical traditions in Latin America and the Caribbean, making it difficult to consider this region as a unified “culture area.” We will explore a wide range of music and dance styles in the Americas, examining similarities and differences among them. No previous musical knowledge is required, but students are expected to learn basic listening skills and identify musical styles. Also listed under international studies—Latin American and Caribbean studies.This course has a community learning component. (Enrollment limited)

218. American Popular Music— A broad survey of popular musics in the United States from the late 19th century to the present. We will explore blackface minstrelsy, the music of Tin Pan Alley, ragtime and big band jazz, early blues and country music, post-war pop singers, the evolution of rock and roll, rhythm and blues and soul, folk music, alternative music, hip-hop, and MTV and the popular mainstream. Themes of music and identity, multi- cultural sources, the business of music, and the influence of technology will be followed throughout the course. No previous background in music is required. Also listed in American studies. (Enrollment limited)-Woldu

[222. Investigating Music and Culture]— This course is an in-depth introduction to the study of music and culture. This course will focus on the gathering of primary-source materials and relate them to broader historical and cultural contexts. Through this process, students will develop interviewing techniques, learn how to document with video and audio recording equipment, and practice incorporating data into comprehensive research projects. Students will develop these techniques through participation with a Hartford-based arts organization. Also listed under anthropology.This course has a community learning component. Prerequisite: Music 113, 215, 219, 220, or Permission of Instructor. (Enrollment limited)

[228. Masterpieces of Opera]— In the days before movies, the greatest and most popular theatrical entertainment was found at the opera house. Opera-goers enjoyed comic or dramatic stories, spectacular singing, lavish sets and costumes, and the excitement of sharing the spectacle with other enthusiastic fans. And they idolized the leading singers, who were as famous then as Lady Gaga or Angelina Jolie are today. This course will explore the range of great operatic works from the birth of opera to the present, focusing on the operas of Mozart (The Marriage of Figaro), Rossini (The Barber of Seville), and Verdi (Macbeth and Aida). In learning about the different styles of opera, we will see operas on video and attend a live operatic performance if possible. (Enrollment limited)

[273. The Musical-Theater Works of Stephen Sondheim]— Stephen Sondheim is now generally regarded as the greatest composer and lyricist in the history of the American musical theater. This course will examine, with recordings and scripts, each of the 12 Broadway shows for which Sondheim has written both music and lyrics, including not only such well-known titles as Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, but also such lesser-known masterpieces as Assassins, Pacific Overtures, and Passion. Videos of the shows will also be available for viewing, and there will be one or two class trips to see live productions. No previous training in music is needed. (Satisfies the requirement, for the musical-theater track of the music major, of a classroom course in musical theater.) (Enrollment limited)

274. Jazz: 1900 to the Present— Through listening, discussion, and reading, this course will survey the development of jazz from ragtime and pre-jazz through New Orleans swing, be-bop, and modern jazz. Among composers and performers to be studied include Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Scott Joplin, Thelonious Monk, Charles Parker, and Woody Shaw. No previous training in music is required. Also listed under American studies. (Enrollment limited)-Allen

311. The History of Western Music I— An intensive survey of the development of musical style in Europe through the analysis of selected works from the music of the Greeks to the mid-18th century. Composers to be studied include Machaut, Josquin Desprez, Monteverdi, Handel, and Bach. Prerequisite: Music 101 or permission of the instructor. -Woldu

313. Music of the 20th Century— An intensive survey of the developments in musical style from the late-1890s to the present day, primarily in Europe and the Americas. This course will synthesize historical studies of the composers and their times, and analytical approaches to their compositional practices. Prerequisite: C- or better in Music 202. (Enrollment limited)-Platoff

415. Special Studies in Music— Individual or group study and research on a selected topic under the guidance of a member of the faculty in music. Permission granted only to advanced students. Submission of a completed independent study form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chair are required for enrollment. (0.5-1 course credit) -Staff

420. Advanced Topics in Music History— This course will focus on the analytical and historical exploration of one or more specific repertories in Western music (such as Baroque sacred music, or the string quartets of Beethoven), along with a consideration of the relevant musicological literature. Topics will vary from year to year. Prerequisite: Music 312. (Enrollment limited)-Platoff

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