MUS455

Romantic Period in Music Fall 2012 Prof. J. Davis

Office: 3151 Mason Hall Email: davisj@fredonia.edu

MUS455 investigates the impact of Romanticism on 19th-century European art music from its inception (late Beethoven) to post-romanticism (Wolf, Strauss, Mahler). This course will examine specific compositions by avowed Romantics (e.g. Schubet and Schumann) as well as those outside of, or in opposition to, the mainstream (e.g. Rossini, Verdi). We will also examine a few primary written sources to see how composers and critics sought to explain and justify the Romantic approach. The basic questions driving this course are: What are the philosophical and aesthetic foundations of European Romanticism? How was Romanticism manifested in music? How did Romantic literature, poetry, philosophy, and painting intersect with music? How does Romanticism resonate today? Required Texts: Plantinga, Leon. Romantic Music: A History of Musical Style in Nineteenth- Century Europe. The Norton introduction to music history. New York: W.W. Norton, 1984. Plantinga, Leon, et al. Anthology of Romantic Music. Norton introduction to music history. New York: W.W. Norton, 1984. Assignments: #1: In-class questions (15%) #2: Paper #1 (Wackenroder): due September 27 (15%) #3: Paper #2 (Schumann): due October 30 (15%) #4: Analysis Assignment (Wolf): due December 4 (15%) #5: Paper #3; due at final exam (20%) #6: Listening Final (20%)
Specifics for each assignment as well as the grading scale and the criteria for assessing papers can be found on ANGEL.

Attendance Policy: 4 or more absences will result in the lowering of the final grade by 10%.

Week 1 (August 27-31) The Roots of Romanticism READING: Plantinga, Chapter I Week 2 (September 3-7) Beethoven The Middle Period The Late Period READING: Plantinga, Chapters II-III LISTENING: Beethoven, Op. 31/2 (Sonata No. 17); op. 55/1 (3rd Symphony); C# minor Quartet (op. 131) Week 3 (September 10-14) Beethovens Contemporaries Clementi, Dussek, Field Czerny, Moscheles, Hummel Schuberts Instrumental Music READING: Plantinga, Chapter IV LISTENING: Schubert, Trout Quintet (Movement 4 and 5); Dussek, Piano Sonata No. 24, Op. 61 Week 4 (September 17-21) The Lied The Berlin School Schubert READING: Plantinga, Chapter V LISTENING: Schubert, Gretchen am Spinnrade, Wandrers Nachtlied, Auf dem Wasser zu singen Week 5 (September 24-28) Schubert Continued Paper #1 Due: Wackenroder, The Remarkable Musical Life of the Musician Joseph Berglinger Week 6 (October 1-5) Early Opera Rossini Donizetti and Bellini German Romantic Opera READING: Plantinga, Chapter VI LISTENING: Rossini, Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Act II quintet)

Week 7 (October 8-12 No Class Thursday) German Romantic Opera Week 8 (October 15-19) Paris French Grand Opera Liszt, Chopin, and Virtuosity Berlioz READING: Plantinga, Chapter VII LISTENING: Liszt, Tannhuser paraphrase, Annes de Plerinage; Chopin, Ballade in G Minor, op. 23; Berlioz, La Damnation de Faust Week 9 (October 22-26) Schumann and Mendelssohn READING: Plantinga, Chapter VIII LISTENING: Schumann, Auschwung from Fantasiestcke; Waldegesrch from Liederkreis; Mendelssohn, excerpts from St. Paul Week 10 (October 29-November 2 No Class Thursday) Schumann continued Paper #2 Due; Schumann the Poet/Composer Week 11 (November 5-9) Wagner READING: Plantinga, Chapter IX LISTENING: Die Walkre (III/2) Week 12 (November 12-16) Italian and French Opera Verdi READING: Plantinga, Chapter X LISTENING: Otello (III/1 & 2) Week 13 (November 19-23) Thanksgiving Break Week 14 (November 26-30) Nationalist Music Hungary, Bohemia, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, England, Spain Dvorak Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky READING: Plantinga, Chapter Chapter XI LISTENING: Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4 (1st movement)

 Week 15 (December 3-7) Late Century Romanticism Liszt Brahms Wolf & Strauss Analysis Assignment Due READING: Plantinga, Chapter XII LISTENING: Brahms, Concerto for Violin in D Major, op. 77; Strauss, Don Juan; Wolf, Das verlassene Mgdlein Week 16 (December 10-14) Summary Romanticism Then & Now Final Exam: Monday, December 17, 4:00-6:00pm Final Paper Due at Final Exam