Compositional Concepts and Techniques (439-0-1)

Topic

Materials of Music since 1945

Instructors

Hans Christian Thomalla
h-thomalla@northwestern.edu
Native of Bonn, Germany. Recipient of numerous awards including the 2004 Kranichsteiner Musikpreis and the 2005 Christoph Delz Prize. Has been a fellow of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Music has been performed by major German ensembles, including the SWR-Radiosinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, SR-Sinfonieorchester, Ensemble Modern, and Ensemble Recherche. A CD of his works forthcoming on the Wergo label. Has also been affiliated with the Stuttgart Opera as a dramaturg and programmer for the new-music concert series <em>Dialoge</em>. For more information, visit Hans Thomalla's personal web site.

Meeting Info

RCMA Lower Level 111: Tues 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

The class will survey and discuss aesthetic positions of the 20th and 21st century and examine their influence on contemporary music. Some of the most influential aesthetic texts of the 20th century in addition to less known works will be read (Adorno/Horkheimer, Barthes, Butler, Said, Sonntag and others). We will elaborate on connections, contradictions, and contexts of these texts. An important part of the course will be room for discussion regarding effects of the aesthetic texts on contemporary music and on our own positions as artists at the beginning of the 21st century.

Class Materials (Required)

Students will need to purchase a reader from Quartet copies (~$40)

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Restricted to Music Undergrads/Grads