syl 611f11 - George Mason University School of Music

Instructor: Dr. Glenn Smith, Prof of Music
Office: PAB 434, 993-1393, gsmith9@gmu.edu
Office Hours: Posted A434
Last Day to Add: Sept 6, 2011
Last Day to Drop: Sept 30, 2011
Final Exam Time: Wed. Dec. 14, 7:30-10:15
George Mason University
College of Visual and Performing Arts
School of Music
MUSIC 611: Analytical Techniques
Fall 2011
MUSI 611-001: 3 Credit Hours
FAB 2007; W 7:20-10:00
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and
contact the Office of Disability Resources at 703.993.2474. All academic accommodations must be
arranged through that office.
Pre-requisite: Beginning Fall 2007 and henceforth all new students are required to take a written theory entrance exam. All
those demonstrating sufficient theoretical knowledge are then eligible to enroll in MUSI 611. All others must take the
Theory Review course prior to enrolling in MUSI 611.
Course Description: This course will provide a detailed theoretical examination of music
from the major style periods, allowing for development of the perceptual resources needed for
graduate-level competence in music. Three (3) credit hours.
Repertory list : Is appended to the end of this document.It is a list of works chosen to
analyze from the Burkhart anthology 6 th edition postmodern update. Works marked with
an asterisk will be studied in class although they are not contained in the anthology.
Numbers found at end of topic outlines refer to the repertory list so the student can
familiarize themselves beforehand with works covered in class.
Course Outline of Topics (Fall 2011)
I. Theory and analysis and analytical formats
Parametric analytical application; style vs. detail analysis; conceptual theory review; origins of the
major/minor system; how harmony works; Modes; The natural overtone series and the evolution
of harmonic practice. Evolution of formal structure and concept
II. Early Music
Medieval and Renaissance polyphony; pre-harmonic practice, textural manipulation, parametric analysis.
[1,2,3,4]
III. Early Baroque Music

IV. Baroque
Style characteristics and analysis of early Baroque music. [5,6]
Handel; Bach selected works;, Variation forms and fugal procedures.[7,8,9,10,11]
V, VI. Classical
Evolution of sonata form from Baroque to Classical. Sonata forms, & variants. Evolution
of formal principles; sonata and rondo. Later sonata.[12, 13,14,15,16,17,18]
VII. Romantic
German Lied; Chopin & Wagner; Parametric analysis; formal expansion; tonal expansion
and chromatic harmonic practice. [19,20,21,23]
VIII. Impressionism & early 20 th century
Debussy. Stravinsky, Ives,; parametric analysis; free forms; chromatic expansion as
color/texture, pre-20 th century harmonic extensions., symmetrical scales and pitch
centricity. Hindemith Series 1& 2. [24,25,26,27,28]
IX 20th Century (serial and non-serial music)
Bartok, Stravinsky, Messiaen, Crumb, Webern: selections. 20 th century analysis including
set theory and serial procedures. [27,28,29,30]
X. Later 20th Century
Course Text
Riley, Reich, Bryars: selections. parametric analysis. musical process as structure;
serialization, and isorhythm. Schenkarian analysis; motif development; shape and textural
considerations; chromatic expansion as color/texture; concept of "pulse-phase
minimalism" .[29,31,32]
1. Burkhart, Charles, Anthology for Musical Analysis, 6 th edition
2. Supplimental materials will be handed out in class.
Grading
Grades will be determined on a point basis from written assignments, analytical papers, and tests. An
analytical paper will be required near the end of the semester. Specific information as to its content and
format will be given in class. Mid-term and final tests will be given.
Other:In addition to the formal study of works listed above, there will be frequent listening/aural analyses
of music. Students are expected to monitor their GMU e-mail accounts daily as this class may require mailings
of hand-out materials, assignment materials, supplimentary instructions, etc as e-mail attachments. Please make
sure your account has sufficient space available to receive course materials. Repertory list follows

Composer & title Page # Style, category, or form
1. Machaut-De Bon Espoir 9 Isorhythmic motet; rhythmic modes; cantus firmus
technique
2. Dufay- Communio 14 Fauxbourdon w/ cantus firmus
3. Josquin- Tu Pauperum 16 Ear;y voice leading, incipient vertical texture
4. Josquin-Baises moy 19 Canonic voice leading; quasi functionality; controlled
dissonance
5.Palestrina –Missa aeterna
Christi
22 Plainchant as musical source material
6. Gesualdo- Moro Lasso 39 Post Renaissance verticality
7. Corelli-trio sonata Op. 4 53 Early binary form
No. 11
8. Purcell-Dido’s Lament 55 Use of ground; Baroque bass line
9. Handel -Air 76 Variation technique
10. Bach –Chaconne d minor 94 Harmonic variation technique
11.Bach- c major Prelude; g 104, Key area determination; fugue vs. prelude
minor fugue
107
12. Haydn- Sonata 36- I 137 Monothematic sonata allegro
13. Haydn- Sonata 37-III 140 Rondo techniques
14. Clementi- Sonatina G 161 Simple sonata prototype
15 Mozart- K 333 Bb 175 Sonata form
16 Beethoven-Sonata 1 in f 219 Sonata form
17. Beethoven- Op 7 Eb II and 225, 2 nd movement structure
Op 10 II
228
18. Beethoven-Waldstein 263 Expanded sonata allegro
19. Schubert - Doppelganger 294 German Lied
20. Schubert- Erlkonig 296 German Lied, chromaticism
21. Chopin-E min Prelude 326 Romantic chromaticism & harmonic coloration
22. Chopin- C min Prelude 331 Romantic chromaticism
23. Wagner- Tristan Prelude 334 Leitmotiv technique; Romantic form
24.Debussy- Sunken
Cathedral
421 Impreessionistic style and vocabulary
25. Ives- The Cage 435 Early 20 th century
26. Ives- General Booth 436 Collage and 20 th century texture as form
27. Bartok- Music for Strings, 453 20 th century fugal technique
Perc.
28. Hindemith- A Swan 488 Series 1 and 2
29. Messiaen-Crystal Liturgy 502 20 th century isorhythmic technique
30 Webern-Wie bin Ich fro 482 Dodecaphonic technique
31. Riley – In C 531 Process as form
32.* Reich,- Come Out;
;Bryars- Jesus Blood
*** Pulse phase minimalism; 21 st century concepts