MUSC 321: Topics in Music History Music and Myth Fall 2006 Tuesday, Thursday 2:00-3.

.50 pm Library 307 Sterling Lambert Email: jslambert@smcm.edu Phone: 240-895-4229 (Office) Office Hours: Wednesdays 1:00-2:00 pm, or by appointment. Office: Montgomery Hall 004 Since before the dawn of recorded history, when humanity recounted its most time-honored tales in song, music and myth have been inextricably intertwined in an utterly symbiotic relationship. This course seeks to explore some of the relatively recent musical responses to myth, focusing particularly on the ancient Greek legend of Orpheus, as treated in music from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries, and the Teutonic myths revolving around the concept of a ring of power, as interpreted by Wagner, in his monumental four-opera cycle The Ring of the Nibelung, and Tolkien, in the no less monumental Lord of the Rings. For majors and non-majors. Musicreading ability is not required. Course Requirements Opera reviews on BlackBoard (15 reviews: 3% each) Two short essays (approx. 1 page, 5% each) One quiz First paper (Orpheus) Second paper (The Ring) Materials Materials for use in class will be distributed or presented in class, and will also be posted on BlackBoard. Materials for assignments will be posted on BlackBoard, and you will need to print these out if necessary. Opera video recordings on reserve: Monteverdi, LOrfeo Gluck, Orphe et Euridice Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen Assignments Due dates for assignments are indicated by the underlined dates in the schedule of classes (below). Assignments are normally given out a week before the due date. Late assignments cannot be accepted without prior approval. M1500 .M65 O74 2002 M1500 .G5 O76 2000 M1500 .W13 R45 1991 (DVD) (DVD) (Laserdisc) 45% 10% 5% 20% 20%

Academic misconduct When completing work, the temptation to borrow from the work of others without appropriate acknowledgement is always present; please familiarize yourself with the colleges policy on academic misconduct (in the booklet To the Point and also in the college catalog). Grading Letter grades, as outlined in the college catalog, will be awarded for all assignments and exams. In addition to these grades, the grades of A+ and D- will also be awarded for individual pieces of work throughout the semester, although these cannot be final grades (a final grade of A+ will therefore be rounded down to an A, and a final grade of D- will be rounded up to a D). Grades for each item will be posted on BlackBoard throughout the semester. The Average Grade column will indicate your current overall grade at any time in the semester. Course Schedule (subject to revision): Aug 29, 31 Sept 5, 7 Sept 12, 14 Sept 19, 21 Sept 26, 28 Oct 3, 5 Oct 12 Oct 17, 19 Oct 24, 26 Introduction to music and myth; Monteverdi, LOrfeo Monteverdi, LOrfeo (cont.) Gluck, Orphe et Euridice Gluck, Orphe et Euridice (cont.) Other approaches to the Orpheus myth; introduction to Wagners Der Ring des Nibelungen (The ring of the Nibelung). First essay due Sept 28 Das Rheingold (The Rhinegold) Die Walkre (The Valkyrie), Act I (note: no class on Oct 10). First paper due Die Walkre, Acts II and III Siegfried (Siegfried), Acts I and II

Oct 31, Nov 2 No classes Nov 7, 9 Nov 14, 16 Nov 21 Nov 28, 30 Dec 5, 7 Siegfried, Act III. Gtterdmmerung (The twilight of the Gods), Prologue and Act I Gtterdmmerung, Acts I (continued) and II Gtterdmmerung, Act III (note: no class on Nov 23) Interpretations of the Ring assigning of essay/paper topics Nov 28. Music analysis of the Ring the Leitmotiv (Leading motive). Leitmotive quiz Nov 30 Mythic sources. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings. Second essay due Dec 5

Submission and (brief, informal) reports on second paper due: Tuesday December 12, 7-9.15pm