East European Literature and Visual Arts (392-0-1)
Topic
Tchaikovsky
Instructors
Inna I Naroditskaya
847/467-2034
in-narod@northwestern.edu
Meeting Info
RCMA Lower Level 113: Tues 2:00PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
Class on Peter Tchaikovsky deals with cultural and musical history in nineteenth-century Russia and with the spilt between nationalism manifested by the Mighty Five and so-called cosmopolitism of Tchaikovsky and brothers Rubinstein. "The last imperial composer," Tchaikovsky captured the splendor of the eighteenth-century court and forebode the advent of the modernism. He touched on every genres - from vocal romances and cycles of short piano pieces to monumental concerti, symphonies, and programmatic compositions, inspired by literary works and evoking visual imageries. He had especial affinity with theater, in which he began a new era in Russian ballet. A number of his operas, including lyric Eugene Onegin, mystical Queen of Spades although based on Pushkin don't befit Russian nationalistic molds of heroic historical or fairytale operas. The musical repertoire in this class includes songs, two piano and violin concerti, two of Tchaikovsky's symphonies, his Swan Lake and Nutcracker as well as his symbolist Queen, Onegin, and Iolanta (pending on changes discussed with students). Requiring active listening and reading, the class is based on rigorous seminar-type discussions.
Learning Objectives
Music of Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky's biography
Literary sources of his operas (Pushkin)
Critical and analytical literature
Evaluation Method
Class preparations
Mid-term
Research paper/presentation
Class Materials (Required)
Most of material will be provided via Canvas
Class Attributes
Advanced Expression
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area