MHST 520C Topics in the Classical Era: Symphonies of Beethoven
Beethoven's nine symphonies form the bedrock of European concert music--the foundation on which a canon of paradigmatic orchestral compositions arose in the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. We will study Beethoven's symphonies in an effort to understand their hallowed and influential status. Through listening, analysis, reading, and research, we will examine the nature of the music itself, the social-cultural environment from which it sprang, and the history of its reception. There will be weekly reading and listening assignments for discussion in class, a final exam, and an individual research project culminating in a written report.