MUS 152
A Composer's History of Jazz Fall 2016
Division I Writing Skills Exploring Diversity Initiative
Cross-listed AFR 152
This is not the current course catalog

Class Details

This course will provide a chronological survey of jazz composers as focused through the lens of selected compositions, beginning with the pre-jazz era and continuing through the present day. Students will be required to do assigned listening and read related criticism and biographical material. In addition, students will write several responsive papers summarizing these listening and reading experiences. Each student will also write a biographical paper about a composer (or composer/arranger) of her choice, and participate in a collaborative presentation at the end of the semester on a composition or set of compositions from a list of possibilities provided by the instructor. Midterm and final examinations will focus on analytical aural skills developed during the semester, both in terms of formal analysis and composer identification. Composers whose work will be covered may include: Scott Joplin, James P. Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton, George Gershwin, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, Benny Carter, Ernie Wilkins, Quincy Jones, Gil Evans, Frank Foster, John Lewis, Dave Brubeck, Oliver Nelson, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Hermeto Pascoal, Eddie Palmieri, Thad Jones, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Yusef Lateef, Bill Evans, Maria Schneider, Billy Childs, and others. Readings will represent the perspectives of musicians, audiences and critics, as well as an examination of who they were and what agendas and prevailing societal attitudes may have shaped their reactions to the music. Comparisons between the experiences of composers and their listeners in different eras will provide additional perspective As an EDI offering, the course materials will be designed not only to expose the student to the music, but also to provide an examination of the relationship between jazz composers and the historical and cultural worlds in which they created their Art. Readings will include the perspective of musicians, audiences and critics, as well as an examination of who they were and what agendas and prevailing societal attitudes may have shaped their reactions to the music. Comparisons between the experiences of composers and their listeners in different eras will provide additional perspective.
The Class: Format: lecture
Limit: 19
Expected: 19
Class#: 1790
Grading: no pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: short response papers based on reading and listening; midterm and final exams; and a research paper on the career of a composer of the student's choice
Extra Info: may not be taken on a pass/fail basis
Prerequisites: none
Enrollment Preferences: Music Majors and then Jazz Ensemble members
Distributions: Division I Writing Skills Exploring Diversity Initiative
Notes: meets Division 1 requirement if registration is under MUS; meets Division 2 requirement if registration is under AFR
This course is cross-listed and the prefixes carry the following divisional credit:
MUS 152 Division I AFR 152 Division II
Attributes: AMST Arts in Context Electives

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