MUS 688A topic 11; Schenker's Theory of Tonal Music Spring 2006

unique #21290 MWF 1:00-2:00 MRH M3.114

REVISED 1-11-06

Instructor: David Neumeyer

Office: MRH 3.748

Office hours: MWF 2:00-3:00 or by appointment

Phone: 471-7346 (you can leave voicemail)

Email: neumeyer@mail.utexas.edu

Website: none. An online copy of the syllabus is available at http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~neumeyer/688_Schenker_06.html.

Object:

To develop skills in Schenkerian analysis. To acquire knowledge of the historical and disciplinary contexts of Schenker's work. To write a scholarly essay making use of Schenkerian analysis.

Your responsibilities:

1. Regular assignments, which will usually serve as the basis for class discussion. Assignments may also be handed in for the instructor's comments but will not be graded.

2. Reading, mainly in the textbook (see below), but also a few articles in the Schenker literature and some excerpts from Fred Lerdahl's Tonal Pitch Space.

3. EITHER:

(1) An essay which addresses an issue in the music studies discipline and that introduces Schenkerian (or other linear) analysis in an appropriate way.

OR:

(2) A report that uses Schenkerian analysis as a tool to develop data for a study of stylistic or formal traits in a specified musical repertoire.

The essay or report is due at the official final exam time: Wednesday May 10, 2pm to 5pm.

It is assumed

(1) that you will begin thinking about -- and doing preliminary research for -- the essay or report early on in the semester;

(2) that you will be prepared to discuss in class the topics you are exploring;

(3) that you will give me some kind of draft text and analysis drafts for critique no later than the end of March;

(4) that you will be prepared to present your work-in-progress to the class sometime during April.

Other information related to grading and my policies:

1. I grade on a simple letter scale: A, B, C, D, F.

2. I do not give incompletes except for documented medical emergency that prevents you from completing the essay in time.

Text: David Neumeyer and Susan Tepping, A Guide to Schenkerian Analysis (Prentice Hall, 1992 -- out of print: chapters available online at http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~neumeyer/#items)

Schedule:

W January 18-30: Introduction; bass-line sketches (N-T, chs. 1-3)

February 1 through F March 10 (spring break): analysis of upper voices (N-T, chs. 5-6)

M March 20-end of semester (last class day is F May 5): several topics: sonata form (N-T, ch.8), extensions to repertoires earlier and later than Bach-to-Brahms (N-T, ch. 9), alternative views of linear analysis (Lerdahl and others), topics as presented by class members

Official final exam time: Essay or report is due.

Reserves:

No paper reserves. I will use electronic reserves for any documents that need to be made available to the class. Go to the Library's main page http://www.lib.utexas.edu/ and under "Library Services" select "Reserves," then select "Find" under the Electronic Reserves/Students heading. You will need a password to access the course site; I will give the password at our first class meeting.

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.