Music 131

 

Post-Tonal Theory is an introduction to the theory and analysis of twentieth century music. The repertoire under consideration includes atonal and serial music as well as centric music from a wide variety of composers (among them Bartók, Berg, Crawford Seeter, Debussy, Ligeti, Messiaen, Saariaho, Schoenberg, Scriabin, Stravinsky, Vivier and Webern). The analytical tools employed include pitch-class set analysis, modal analysis, rhythmic analysis, transformational theory, and extensions of chromatic harmony. You will complete six theoretical and analytic assignments, midterm and final exams. The text is mandatory, but scores, streaming audio, and additional reading will be available online at the course website. Additional extra credit quizzes can be accesse via canvas. Full syllabus available here.