MUSI 4930: Topics: Music of the Beatles – Form and Expression

Abstract

GOALS and OBJECTIVES: This course continues the process, begun in Sense of Music, of exploring the ways in which the materials of musical composition combine to create a complete and coherent art work in the ears and mind of the listener. The aim is to expand the skills of intelligent and critical listening developed in that earlier course and to extrapolate those skills to music of a different genre – specifically what is called “popular music”. This will further help enable you to perceive the musical ideas, events and internal relationships in a musical work. The only way to achieve this goal is through the practice of active and conscious listening. In our class no assumption of musical literacy is made, other than the skill set developed in Sense of Music. However, we will continue to develop our knowledge of the mechanics of music notation and structure – specifically melody, harmony and instrumentation. We will expand our vocabulary of musical terms as we proceed. All terminology and its appropriate application will be presented, defined and discussed in class. Along with this syllabus you will receive a list of basic terms. You are expected to use your growing musical vocabulary in our class discussions. In addition to careful and attentive listening then next most important activity is asking questions. NEVER HESITATE to request clarification about something that you don’t understand because if you don’t understand it several of your classmates are probably also confused. So ask the question. We will study representative works of Western popular music, primarily but not entirely drawn from the justly celebrated British group the Beatles. Because these pieces are songs, that is, a poetic lyric set to a melody and with a variety of different styles of accompaniment, emphasis will be placed on understanding how the elements of musical organization combine to intensify our understanding of the meaning of the poetry. These pieces are our primary texts. Mindful, critical listening is essential in order to understand them. Rather than being a series of lectures, the course is conducted more as a lab or workshop. Thus attendance and participation are essential. Both of these will be taken into account when determining grades. In addition to the class work there are assignments that you must do on your own.