MUS 245 History, Music and Ideas: Rethinking the Classical Canon - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Raises issues specific to classical music in one or more concentrated historical periods. Students will get to know a designated repertoire of musical works, whilst exploring critical topics such as periodisation, canon formation and reception history.

Course Overview

Developing the written and research skills acquired in MUS 143, this course is designed to introduce you to the skills, attitudes and conceptual understandings that define the historically literate musicologist. You will think about what it means to know and understand historical events; to deploy particular history-related concepts; to weigh up various kinds of evidence; and to see the ‘big picture’, understanding the constructed nature of history. This year the course is based on case studies of key composers, works and musical ideas from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In addition to examining works by Gluck, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, the course will also consider works by lesser-studied composers as well as compositions that belong to genres that are typically considered ephemeral. The aim is to promote a critical understanding of these composers and their works, including consideration of the myths and stereotypes that they have attracted and the cultural and musical circumstances in which they lived and worked.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MUS 140 or 143 or 145 or 176 Restriction: MUS 240, 345

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the musical works and key concepts/terminology studied in lectures and tutorials. (Capability 1)
Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the conventions, social functions and aesthetics of the major musical genres of the era (Capability 1 and 4)
Write clearly and concisely–demonstrating competence in grammar and syntax, register or mode of discourse, structure, argument and referencing–and with specific musical-technical detail. (Capability 1 and 4)
Conduct advanced research tasks, using relevant resources and source material. (Capability 2 and 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Research	10%	Individual Coursework
Essay	20%	Individual Coursework
Quizzes	10%	Individual Coursework
Test	10%	Individual Test
Final Exam	50%	Individual Examination
5 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4
Research
Essay
Quizzes
Test
Final Exam

50% of combined assignment and examination marks.

Assignments are to be submitted, according to the submission type specified on CANVAS, by the due date. In the event of illness or other circumstances which prevent the completion of an assignment, please contact the course coordinator with appropriate evidence prior to the due date. Late assignments that do not have an approved extension will be penalised 10% for each day or part thereof. No assignment will be accepted after marked assignments have been returned.

Teaching & Learning Methods

The course is delivered by weekly two-hour lectures, and weekly one-hour tutorial (starting in Week 2). The course prepares students for advanced undergraduate courses in music (245), and for postgraduate studies (345). Tutorials involve active participation, with plenty of room for questions and discussion; several of the tutorials involve student presentations, in which the other students are also expected to participate with questions and comments. Students are expected to attend all lectures and tutorials.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures (2 hours per week), 8 hours of tutorials, 94 hours of reading and thinking about the content (approximately 8 hours per week, on average, with the emphasis on preparing the essay); 22 hours of assignment, essay and exam preparation; 2-hour exam.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the class test and exam
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

All course readings are available via Reading Lists on Canvas.

You are required to keep up to date with readings. You should skim the assigned material before the lecture at which it is to be discussed, and read it again more attentively after.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

In the event of unexpected disruption

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity

MUS 245 : History, Music and Ideas: Rethinking the Classical Canon

Creative Arts and Industries

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)