MUSIC 284: Music and Contemporary Society, Spring 2017

Dr. Lynn Wood Bertrand, Mon/Wed 11:30-12:45

SYLLABUS
Course Description
This course offers a detailed historical examination of Western art music composed
since 1900, emphasizing both repertoire and the cultural practice of music-making. You will
be introduced to some of the people, projects, and events that shaped classical, jazz, and
cross-over music-making during the 20th and early 21st centuries. It fulfills a History &
Culture Category A requirement for the music major, and it satisfies a HSC requirement of
the GER.
This course assumes an adeptness with musical notation, an ability to read a
transposing orchestral score, and a vocabulary of basic tonal theory and analysis. If you are
unsure about your prior preparation for this course, please see me during the first week of the
semester.
Required Texts: *A History of Western Music, 9th ed. ISBN 978-0-393-91829-8
by Peter Burkholder, Donald J. Grout, Claude V. Palisca
*Norton Anthology of Western Music, Vol. III, 7th ed. ISBN 9780-393-92163-2
*Course Packet on Blackboard
*Compact Disc sets to accompany the anthology Vol. III.
(Many of
the pieces are streamed or available on Naxos for free)
Requirements: -Three exams that include a Listening portion and essay
questions.
The essay questions are due at the beginning of the
class day
of the Listening exam and cover concepts, trends in
music, composers, major works, and major philosophical
shifts in the period covered by the assigned chapters.
-Research paper of 6-8 pages on an approved topic.
-Final 10 minute presentation on research topic must utilize
audio examples and/or powerpoint and a handout (onepage is
okay) for class.
Extra Credit:
A concert review of any concert that features the music
of
the 20th or 21st centuries can earn you 1 or 2 additional
points on
an exam grade.
Office hours:
BRB 332 Monday, 1-2:00pm, Wednesday, 1-3:00pm, or
by appt.

How your semester grade is determined:

Exam 1 - 20% (average of Ch. 30, 31, 32, 33 and Listening exam on
NAWM 164-180)
Exam 2 - 20% (average of Ch. 34, 35, 36 and Listening exam on
NAWM 181-199)
Exam 3 - 20% (average of Ch. 37, 38, 39 and Listening exam on
NAWM 200-220)
Presentation 10% Paper 15%
In-class assignment 1 5%
In-class assignment 2 - 5%
Participation, attendance - 5%
Attendance and Participation
Your attendance and participation are required at each class meeting. You
may miss up to three classes without penalty. After this, each additional
absence will result in a 3% deduction from your grade.
Daily Schedule
Read
JAN

11
18

Introduction to Course, Requirements, etc.

Diverging Traditions in the Later 19th Century

Ch.30, pp.740-

The Early 20th Century: Vernacular Music

Ch.31, pp.764-

23

The Early 20th Century: The Classical Tradition

Ch.32, pp.778-

25
30

The Early 20th Century: The Classical Tradition

Radical Modernists

Ch.33, pp.812-

1
6
8
13

Radical Modernists, continued

Radical Modernists, continued; In-class 1
Trip to Library, Intro, Zotero
Exam #1: Music of the Early 20th Century (Ch. 30-32) PP.740-

15

Between the World Wars: Jazz and Popular Music

763
777
811
853
FEB

854
Ch.34, pp.855-

874
20
Between the World Wars: The Classical Tradition
Ch. 35,
pp.875-902
22
The Classical Tradition, continued
27
The Classical Tradition, continued
MAR 1
Postwar Crosscurrents
Ch.36, pp.903-922
13
Trip to Library, Research Projects and Rose Library
15
Exam #2: Between and Post World Wars (Ch. 33-36) pp.855922
20
Postwar Heirs to the Classical Tradition
Ch.37, pp.923957
2

22
27

Postwar Heirs to the Classical Tradition, continued

The Late Twentieth Century

Ch.38, pp.958-

29
3

The Late Twentieth Century, continued

The Twenty-First Century

Ch.39, pp.993-

992
APR
1009

5
Final Project Presentations
10
Exam #3: The Late 20th and Early 21st Centuries (Ch.37-39)
pp.923-1009
12
Final Project Presentations
17
Final Project Presentations
19
Final Project Presentations
24
In-class 2, Final Project Presentations
29
Final paper due
Collaboration, Plagiarism, and the Emory College Honor Code
Upon every individual who is a part of Emory University falls the
responsibility for maintaining in the life of Emory a standard of
unimpeachable honor in all academic work. In this course, all students will
be held to the standards of Emorys Honor Code. Every student in the
class should familiarize her/himself with its provisions and procedures by
consulting the following website:
http://college.emory.edu/home/academic/policy/honorcode.html
Students are expected to follow the Emory University Honor Code. Everything
submitted must be the students own work. When using the ideas of others, be
sure to cite the source. Students may not give or receive aid on examinations or
quizzes. Students suspected of violation of the universitys honor code will be
reported to the Honor Council for appropriate action.
Research Paper and Final Project Presentation
I.
II.
III.
IV.

Identify a topic for research that is of interest to you. The topic must
relate to the music and/or musicians/trends/issues of the 20th and 21st
centuries.
Have topic approved by Dr. Bertrand. Craft thesis statement and turn
in by due date. Read the Blackboard document about writing Thesis
Statements.
Read the documents on Blackboard about writing the music paper and
using citations properly.
Begin your research with the library online catalogue and Oxford Music
Online and determine if there are enough resources readily available in
your area of interest. The Music Librarian will be available in the Music
and Media Library for assistance, as will Dr. Bertrand.

V.

VI.

VII.

Be sure that your paper has a clear thesis statement, develops an

argument logically, has a summary statement, and the Bibliography is
constructed according to your citation guidelines. 8-12 pages are
required.
The technical requirements are as follows:
A. Use Times New Roman font, 12 point.
B. Align left, but NEVER right
C. Indent paragraphs, and double-space the general paper.
D. If you have lengthy quotes use the indented paragraph quote
pattern.
E. Cite ALL quotations.
F. For the Bibliography, single-space individual entries, but doublespace between entries.
G. You MUST use FOOTNOTES,1 not endnotes or any other citation
system. Use a full citation the first time you cite a source and
thereafter you may use a short citation form (author, page
number).2 You may also use IBID.3
H. Put a title, your name, and date on the first page of the paper. It is
not necessary to indicate the class (I know what class you are in!) or
any other information.
I. Do not use single quote marks unless you are quoting a British
source.
J. The order for quote marks, footnote numbers, and punctuation is as
follows: .footnote number
Final Project is NOT necessarily a summary of your paper. Try not to say
um, uh, like, and try to engage your audience you are the
expert! Handout should not duplicate your slides but be informative
information to take away.

1 First reference of source: full citation that includes Author, title,

publication info, dates, pages
2 Author, p.#
3 Same reference and page number as footnote 2 use IBID.
4