Punctured by revolutions, the 19th century was an era marked by social, political, and economic unrest. From the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century, through the multiple rebellions in 1848, the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, and the instability that led to the First World War, the spirit of revolution ran strong in the 19th century. This course looks at the evolution of one of the premiere musical genres of the 19th century—the symphony—within the larger context of its time. How do the early beginnings that emphasize a strict adherence to musical form reflect the social upheaval brought on through the French Revolution? In a time of strong juxtapositions, how does the symphony articulate the aesthetics of the sublime and the beautiful, the monumental and the miniature, the public and the private, the individual and the nation?

In this class we will examine the symphonies of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Berlioz, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Brahms, Mahler, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and William Grant Still. Attention to musical form and style, composer biography and placement in music history, and contemporary musicological methodologies will be presented in a way that engages those from all musical backgrounds. Grade will be determined by class participation, and written assignments (no prerequisites required).

Intended Audience:

As a DC (Distance due to COVID) course, all aspects of this course will be fully compatible with remote online learning.

Class Format:

The weekly lectures for this course will be recorded and made available asynchronously. We will also have discussion sessions that require synchronous participation.

Course/Testing Assessment: Testing for this course will be asynchronous and will consist of short answer and essay questions that will be submitted via Canvas during a designated time frame.