Aims

This course is intended to introduce students to the different types of 20th and 21st century music and to help them understand the issues related to "new music" so that they are able to adopt a critical stance towards current debates on contemporary art and music.

Main themes

The course gives students a broad overview of the range of 20th and 21st century music and the different movements underpinning it, both for so-called 'serious' music and popular music. Jazz and world music are two of the movements introduced in the course. A wide range of musical selections will be used to illustrate the different musical languages that abound in music schools and movements. Particular attention will be paid to contemporary music and students are expected to attend contemporary music concerts and festivals (ars musica).

Content and teaching methods

This course covers the history of Music from the beginning of the 20th century onwards. Topics dealt with in the course include the roots of "new" music, its development and the debates and controversy it has generated, current music and secondary movements, both non-European and popular. Within this framework, Jazz, American minimalism and the various post-modern movements receive particular attention. The links between musical and artistic creation are examined in detail, and illustrated through listening to music and looking at visual art. Writing on music by a variety of artists, musicians and philosophers help students to contextualise the major works studied. Students are strongly encouraged to attend contemporary music concerts, conferences and festivals.