Music 371 - American Comp Search for Ident

'This course examines the efforts by late 19th- and early 20th-century composers to create a distinctly 'American' art music of symphonic, chamber, piano and vocal repertory. The class investigates the styles, compositional methods and public reception of works by MacDowell, Beach, Farwell, Ives, Harris, Gershwin and Copland, among others, within the cultural and political contexts of their eras. Subtopics include the European domination of America's early concert music, the assimilation of vernacular and popular musical materials, and the growing prominence of women composers. Each student will select an independent project to be developed throughout the semester.'

Prereq: Music-232 and 282 or permission of instructor