MUTH 2500 004 Theory IV Spring 2017 MU 287 MW 10:00 to 10:50 MUTH 2500 005 Theory IV Spring 2017 MU 287 MW 12:00 to 12:50 Office Hours: Thursdays 2 to 4 Instructor: Dr. David Bard Schwarz Office: MU 104 E mail: david.schwarz@unt.edu In this course we will study 20th and 21st Century music. We will begin with a discussion of late 19th Century / early 20th Century pieces that are right on the threshold between chromaticism and atonal musical languages. Then we will move into the course proper, consisting of two sections: 1) atonal (exploring atonal pitch class set theory); and 2) serial (exploring 12 tone techniques). Coming to class regularly and punctually is very important. You will be dropped from the course after three unexcused absences; I take roll at the top of the hour; three latenesses = one unexcused absence. You will be excused from class due to natural disasters, transportation problems beyond your control, medical emergencies (concerning you or members of your immediate family), and official UNT musical activities. A proven case of plagiarism on an exam will result in an F for the course. Grades will be determined as follows: Paper #1: (atonal (analysis)) = 50% Paper #2: (serial (analysis)) = 50% Student Perception of Teaching (SPOT) is a requirement for all organized classes at UNT. This short survey will be made available to you at the end of the semester, providing you a chance to comment on how this class is taught. I am very interested in the feedback I get from students, as I work to continually improve my teaching. I consider the SETE to be an important part of your participation in this class. 01.18.2017 Why atonality? (some answers): 1) progress forward from the chromaticism of the late 19th century, 2) the discovery of the unconscious (Freud and others), 3) abstraction in the visual arts (Kandinsky and others), 4) the modern city (industrialization), 5) quantum physics (Einstein). Pieces on the Threshold between Tonality and Atonality Schoenberg, Verklaerte Nacht YOUTUBE Schoenberg, Verklaerte Nacht: pdf Berg, Piano Sonata Opus 1 YOUTUBE Berg, Piano Sonata Opus 1: pdf Webern, Passacaglia Opus 1YOUTUBE Pieces that have crossed the Threshold between Tonality and Atonality Schoenberg, Opus 11 YOUTUBE Schoenberg, Opus 11: pdf Berg, Opus 2 songs YOUTUBE Webern, Opus 6 no. 1 YOUTUBE 01.23.2017 Straus, Introduction to Post Tonal Theory Chapter 1: pdf atonal pitch class set theory: pitches, pitch classes (names and numbers) Webern, Piece for Orchestra Opus 10, no.1: pdf http://www.davidbardschwarz.com/index.php?link=theory04 1/6
01.25.2017 atonal pitch class set theory: ordered pitch intervals, unordered pitch intervals, ordered pitch class intervals, unordered pitch class intervals The row of Berg's Lyric Suite. How do the four types of intervals help us understand the pitch and pitch class structures of this row? Ordered and Unordered Pitch class intervals: jpg Working with intervals in the Webern Opus 10, no. 1 01.30.2017 Straus, Chapter 2. Read the materials on transposition (pp. 38 44). Pay particular attention to Example 2.6 and how the material transposes in pitch class and pitch space (if it does). Do you hear (or see) transposition in Webern, Pieces for String Quartet Opus 5 no. IV: pdf? If so, does it map onto pitch as well as pitch class space? 02.01.2017 atonal pitch class set theory: how we hear and process music: phenomenology and segmentation Webern, Pieces for Violin and Piano Opus 7: pdf 02.06.2017 normal form See the material in the pdf to the left and the material in Straus, Chapter 2. 02.08.2017 inversion of pc sets; read Straus, Chapter 2, pp. 44 52. Work on the trichords in the upper strings at the beginning of Webern, Piece for Sring Quartet Opus 5, no. 3. Make sure to listen to the piece from a recording on YouTube. http://www.davidbardschwarz.com/index.php?link=theory04 2/6
02.13.2017 Read about prime form in Straus, Chapter 2, pp. 52 59. Prime forms from Straus: pdf 02.15.2017 atonal pitch class set theory: subsets and supersets: pdf Straus, Chapter 3: pdf (read pp. 96 98 on subsets and supersets) 02.20.2017 Read Straus, Chapter 3, pp. 107 110. There will be an in class quiz on Wednesday, October 5 on atonal voice leading. Video on Atonal Voice Leading: m4v 02.22.2017 More work on pitch class and pitch space T and TnI. Take a look at the trichords: pdf to see if they are related, and if so, how, and whether that mapping obtains in pitch space as well as pitch class space. Also take a look at the sixteenth note trichords in Webern, Wie bin ich froh: pdf. They are all related by transposition or inversion; determine which T or TnI takes you from one to another and determine whether that Tn or TnI obtains in pitch as well as pitch class space. 02.27.2017 putting it all together George Rochberg, Caprice Variations for Solo Violin no. 42: pdf 03.01.2017 http://www.davidbardschwarz.com/index.php?link=theory04 3/6
Review and Preparation for the Midterm on Atonal Pitch class Set Theory and Atonal Music Practice Tn and TnI voice leading in pitch class and pitch space: pdf 03.06.2017 Atonal Pitch Class Set Theory Paper Due 03.08.2017 Straus, Introduction to Post Tonal Theory Chapter 5: pdf serialism: the row 03.20.2017 serialism: the matrix Webern, Wie bin ich froh: pdf Webern, Wie bin ich froh (matrix): pdf 03.22.2017 serial description of Wie Bin Ich Froh: JPG Webern Opus 27 no. 2: pdf Webern Opus 27, no. 2 (matrix): pdf 03.27.2017 Webern Opus 21, II: pdf Webern Opus 21, II (matrix): pdf Theme of the Webern Opus 21, II: JPG http://www.davidbardschwarz.com/index.php?link=theory04 4/6
03.29.2017 Partial 12 tone count of variation 1: JPG 12 tone count of variation 2 (beginning): JPG 12 tone count of variation 2 (end): JPG 04.03.2017 prepare variation 3 for class today! 04.05.2017 prepare variation 4 for class today VIDEO on webern's variation 4 from Opus 21 Symphony, second movement: m4v First part of variation 4: JPG Second part of variation 4: JPG 04.10.2017 prepare variation 5 for class today New Matrix with PC numbers and note names for Webern Opus 21, second movement: pdf 04.12.2017 Dallapiccola quaderno musicale di annalibera (complete): pdf Work on no. 3 for today Dallapiccola no. 3 (matrix): pdf Quaderno no. 3: mp3 04.17.2017 http://www.davidbardschwarz.com/index.php?link=theory04 5/6
Work on Dallapiccola no. 4 (same matrix as no. 3). Quaderno no. 4: mp3 04.19.2017 Work on Dallapiccola no. 5 for today 04.24.2017 04.26.2017 Paert, Fratres: pdf Paert, Fratres: mp3 05.01.2017 05.03.2017 Serialism Paper Due http://www.davidbardschwarz.com/index.php?link=theory04 6/6