Music 106 - AMERICAN SOUNDS

This course surveys developments in the history of American music, with a primary focus on the 20th century. We pay particular attention to blues and country music, two styles that arose early in the century and provided the foundation for much of what followed. The course may cover other styles such as: blackface minstrelsy, Tin Pan Alley, folk, jazz, classical or varieties of Latino music. Throughout, we attend to musical aspects of these styles, and connect them to larger historical themes and social issues concerning race, class, gender and the making of "American" identity through music. Formal knowledge of music is not required. Enrollment limited to 45.