Investigations of specialized, current approaches to music creation, presentation, and dissemination. These courses complement other courses offered in the 21CM curriculum.
| Distribution Area | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Variable |
This class will provide a framework for arranging for vocal ensembles. In contrast to composing music, arranging approaches writing from the perspective of creating a musical setting for an already existing piece of music. In a first step, we will briefly focus on gathering/reviewing different tools from music theory, musicianship and proper music notation (including the use of editing software). The majority of the class, students will apply these tools to evaluate existing arrangements and to create their own arrangements with a special focus on significant aspects of writing for the voice.
The class will focus on music by composers from underrepresented communities, focusing on intersections of equity, racial and social justice, and identity. The students will design programs based on these parameters, and at the end of the course, there will be a concert showcasing their work throughout the semester.
This course will explore a survey of choral repertoire contributed by Black composers. This will include the historical information of the composers, their notable contributions to the choral field (and to society), relevant music traditions and trends, and the prominence of relevant artists throughout the 20th-21st centuries. Units of repertoire and history will include Black composers of western-based music traditions, idiomatic music of African and Black traditions, and music which is non-idiomatic of Black traditions. Students will be equipped to study the repertoire and historical contexts through presentations, repertoire analysis, shared projects, and engagement with living choral artists. Due to the nature of the format of this class, there will be room for individual emphases and explorations on this broad topic.