MHST 531 Topics in Medieval Music: Historical Survey of Medieval Music
The purpose of this proseminar is to explore types and traditions of music during the medieval era. Following an introduction to the music of Greco-Roman antiquity, course content will focus on the prevailing categories of sacred and secular music during the period c. 800–1420. Attention will be paid to: (1) placing these repertories into their cultural and historical context, (2) clarifying issues of musical genre and form (including textual elements), (3) expounding the music’s theoretical bases, (4) considering practical manifestations of melodic, harmonic (where applicable), and tonal structure, as well as performance-practice issues. Assignments are designed to develop preprofessional skills of critical reading, lecture preparation & delivery, and the ability to apply period-specific analytical tools.