Music in the Classical Period (Tentative Syllabus)

MUSC 4335
MWF 1:10 2:00 pm / Room #1050 / Spring 2017
Dr. Katrina Zook / kzook@uwyo.edu / Office Hours: TBA
Graduate Assistant: Rafael Ferreiro

Course Objectives:
Students in the class will learn about the distinctive stylistic, musical, and formulaic
characteristics of western art music unique to the time period between 1730 and 1825.
Composers and their works will be studied in a social historical context to enhance
understanding about why these unique characteristics were set in place. A broad
range of genres will be examined including, but not limited to, the symphony, various
sub-genres of opera, the string quartet, art song, the sonata, sacred music, and the
concerto. We will study this repertoire and time period through assigned reading, listening,
and in- class discussion, after the model of a seminar.
Required Text:
Music in the Classic Period (fourth edition) by Reinhard G. Pauly (Prentice Hall
Series). Additional source readings will be assigned throughout the semester and
will be available either via the WyoCourses Course Shell or as Reserved Readings
through databases and/or other online sources through Coe Library. A COURSE
PLAYLIST has been set up through NAXOS MUSIC LIBRARY. Assigned listening
examples will be posted on weekly the Course Homepage. We will discuss access
and how the musical examples will be used, during the first week of class. You will
also be assigned viewing on NAXOS VIDEO LIBRARY.
WyoCourses Course Homepage:
The WyoCourses Course Homepage is considered an extension of the course and its
syllabus. Please get into the habit of checking the site daily to read announcements,
details regarding assignments, class documents disseminated via FILES or LINKS,
or any changes to the syllabus as the course progresses. Failure to do so will not
serve as an excuse for a missed assignment or announcement.
Readiness Component:
MUSC 4335 will include a Readiness Component worth up to 20 points toward your
final grade. This concept places more responsibility and ownership of the learning
experience on you, the student. Clarification of the concept will be discussed in depth
during the first week of class. In general, the UW College of Arts and Sciences
Students and Teachers Working Together document serves as a model for the
expectations for class preparedness. A copy of this document can be found on the
WyoCourses Course Homepage under FILES. An additional factor of the Readiness
Component will be the preparedness
of DAILY EXPERTS; students who will lead discussion regarding aspects of the text
reading assignments.
Disability Statement:
If you have a documented disability, please speak with me immediately. Students
with these concerns will also contact the UDSS (University Disability Student Services)
located in Room #330 in Knight Hall. I will then work to create accommodations that are
in agreement with UDSS and your documented disability.
Academic Integrity:
UW University Regulation 6-802 outlines the definition of academic dishonesty and
the resulting processes and/or hearings at the Departmental, College, and University
levels. It is each students responsibility to be familiar with this important regulation,
which can be found under LINKS on the Course Homepage.
Honor Code:
 This concept will be discussed during class and will be signed as follows: I have
neither given nor received aid on this examination.
Course Requirements:
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class meeting. Two unexcused
absences will be allowed, after which, each subsequent unexcused absence will result in
the lowering of your final grade by one full letter. It is the students responsibility to get
lecture notes from a classmate when class is missed. I will make every attempt to begin
class promptly at 1:10. Chronic lateness to class will be considered an unexcused
absence. An absence is considered excused when the student has a University
Sanctioned excuse, notifies me in advance of a family or medical situation that cannot be
avoided, and provides documentation. E-mails or phone messages without
documentation of your situation will not be considered.
Assignments/Grading:
This semester you can expect four unit quizzes, periodic quizzes over reading
assignments, one midterm essay, and one final exam (group oral exam). Most
Friday classes will be devoted to intensive in-class review and discussion about
concepts presented during the week, in-class listening, and for discussion of the
weeks Arts section of the New York Times (on-line at www.nytimes.com)

4 unit quizzes 50 points each 200

4 reading quizzes 20 points each 80
1 take-home essay 100 points 100
Final Exam 100 points 100
Readiness points 20 points 20
500 points possible
Tentative Schedule
M 1/23 Introduction to the course: WyoCourses Course Homepage, Readiness
Component, New York Times reading assignments,
text reading assignments
W 1/25 Classicism in Music, discussion of reading assignment, in-class listening
F 1/27 Late Baroque and Rococo Style
M 1/30 Late Baroque and Rococo, continued
W 2/1 The Early Classic Symphony
F 2/3 Lab: Reading Quiz, NY Times discussion
M 2/6 The Early Classic Symphony, continued
W 2/8 listening, Review Discussion for Quiz #1
F 2/10 Quiz #1, Social context for the Classic Period
M 2/13 Social history, continued
W 2/15 Haydn and Mozart
F 2/17 Lab: Reading Quiz, NY Times discussion
M 2/20 The Classic Symphony
W 2/22 The Symphony, continued
F 2/24 Lab: listening, discussion
M 2/27 The Symphony continued, review for Quiz #2
W 3/1 Quiz #2
F 3/3 Lab: listening, NY Times discussion
M 3/6 The Sonata
W 3/8 The Sonata, continued
F 3/10 NO CLASS
M 3/20 The Concerto / Chamber Music
W 3/22 Chamber Music, continued
F 3/24 Chamber Music, Reading Quiz
M 3/27 Chamber Music, Art Song
W 3/29 Art Song, continued
F 3/31 Art Song, Review Discussion for Quiz #3
M 4/3 Quiz #3
W 4/5 Intro to Opera
F 4/7 Lab: NY Times discussions (special topic = Opera)
M 4/10 Opera, continued
W 4/12 Opera, continued
F 4/14 Opera, continued
M 4/17 Classic Era Sacred Music
W 4/19 Sacred Music, continued
F 4/21 Reading Quiz, Final Exam groups, Take-Home Essay posted on
WyoCourses
M 4/24 Take-Home Essay Due
W 4/26 Review Discussion for Quiz #4
F 4/28 Quiz #4
M 5/1 Classicism toward Romanticism, Beethoven
W 5/3 Beethoven
F 5/5 Beethoven: Conclusions
W 5/10 Final Exam (1:15 3:15 pm)