THEA 247
Music for Theater Production
Last Offered Spring 2017
Division I
Cross-listed THEA 247 / MUS 247
This course is not offered in the current catalog

Music written to accompany or to “point up” the action or mood of a dramatic performance on stage can be traced to Ancient Theater. Are the labels of incidental and background music appropriate or patronizing for this genre? What is the difference between the composition of “incidental music” and sound designing? How does creating music to accompany a play differ from writing concert music or music for film, ballet, opera, or musical theater? What makes for effective incidental music? How does the music interact with the spoken drama? Students will discuss music composed for selected plays and will compose music for a scene of a play drawing upon pre-existing works, or creating their own. Format: tutorial. During the first and last weeks of the semester, students will attend two group classes. In the other weeks, students will meet with the instructor in pairs for a one-hour session. Students will write and present a 5- to 6-page paper every other week and a 1- to 2-page response to their partner’s paper in the alternate weeks.