Module Details

Module Code: MUSC8064
Title: Music History: 1950 to present
Long Title: Music History: 1950 to present
NFQ Level: Advanced
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2022/23 ( September 2022 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 5
Field of Study: 2121 - Music & Performing Arts
Module Delivered in: 2 programme(s)
Module Description: This module explores the principal composers, musical styles, forms and compositional approaches in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries from c.1950 until the present day. Musical developments are placed in a cultural, socio-historical and intellectual context.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Relate significant dates and events to music history from 1950 to the present
LO2 Interpret key figures, works and aesthetic movements in music and culture of the period
LO3 Summarise the origins, direction and consequences of specific developments in music from the second half of the twentieth century to the present day
LO4 Evaluate the significance of a selected composer, composition or musical development in detail
LO5 Research an approved topic relating to music from c. 1950 to the present
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
Old and new
The moderate mainstream: Britten, Shostakovich and Bernstein; Messiaen; music and texture: Penderecki and Ligeti; quotation and borrowing
Serialism
Serialism since the 1950s; the influence of Webern; total serialism: Boulez and Stockhausen; the politics of serialism; serialism in America: Copland, Babbitt and Carter
Aleatory music
Aleatory music in America; the influence of Cage; Browne, Feldman and the New York School; aleatory music in Europe; the changing role of the performer; indeterminate and graphic notation
Minimalism
Minimalism in the USA: Reich, Monk and Adams; minimalism in Europe: Tavener, Pärt and Andriessen; post-minimalism in the twenty-first century
Film music
Developments in film music since 1950; the film music of Bernard Hermann; classical music on screen; minimalism and film music: Glass and Nyman; film music in the twenty-first century
Music and politics
Music and politics; responses to war: Crumb, Zimmermann, Rzewski, Laurie Anderson; popular music and politics since the 1960s
Specialised topic
Plan and research a medium length (4,000-4,500 word) essay on an approved topic related to the course OR research, prepare and present musical work(s) written since 1950, in the form of a 30-minute lecture/recital with accompanying programme notes
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Reflective Journal % of Total Mark 20
Timing Every Second Week Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
Responses to reading, listening and practical assignments
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 20
Timing Week 7 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4
Assessment Description
Annotated timeline and playlist
Assessment Type Presentation % of Total Mark 10
Timing Week 10 Learning Outcomes 2,4,5
Assessment Description
Project proposal and verbal presentation
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 50
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 2,4,5
Assessment Description
Essay or lecture and recital
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact 20th-century music from 1950 to present Every Week 2.00 2
Tutorial Contact Engaging with 20th-century music Every Week 1.00 1
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Reading, listening, research, study Every Week 4.00 4
Total Hours 7.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 7.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
This module has no Part Time workload.
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Auner, Joseph. (2013), Music in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries: Western Music in Context: A Norton History, Norton & Co., New York & London, [ISBN: 978039392920].
  • Taruskin, Richard. (2009), Music in the Late Twentieth Century: The Oxford History of Western Music, Oxford University Press, Oxford, [ISBN: 978-01953848].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Albright, Daniel. (2004), Modernism and music: an anthology of sources, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, [ISBN: 0226012670].
  • Burkholder, J. Peter, Donald Jay Grout, Claude V. Palisca. (2019), A history of western music, 10th. W. W. Norton & Company, New York, [ISBN: 9780393419].
  • Burkholder, J. Peter (Editor), Claude V. Palisca (Editor). (2014), Norton Anthology of Western Music: Volume 3 Twentieth Century, 7th. [ISBN: 978-039392163].
  • Cook, Nicholas and Anthony Pople (eds.). (2004), The Cambridge history of twentieth-century music, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge & New York, [ISBN: 0521662567].
  • Cooke, Mervyn. (2008), A History of Film Music, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, [ISBN: 978-05210104].
  • Cox, Christoph and Daniel Warner (eds.). (2004), Audio culture: readings in modern music, Continuum, New York, [ISBN: 978-0826416155].
  • Griffiths, Paul. (2011), Modern Music and After, 3rd. Oxford University Press, [ISBN: 978-0199740505].
  • Hamer, Laura. (2021), Cambridge Companion to Women in Music Since 1900, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, [ISBN: 9781108455787].
  • Nyman, Michael. (1999), Experimental music: Cage and beyond, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, [ISBN: 0521653835].
  • Ross, Alex. (2009), The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century, Harper Collins, London, [ISBN: 978-1-84115-476-3].
  • Rutherford-Johnson, Tim. (2017), Music After the Fall: Modern Composition & Culture Since 1989, University of California Press, Berkeley, [ISBN: 9780520283152].
  • Whittall, Arnold. (2003), Exploring twentieth-century music: tradition and innovation, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge & New York, [ISBN: 0521016681].
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
  • DVD-ROM, (2014), Norton recorded anthology of western music, Vol. 3: Twentieth Century, New York, Sony Music / Norton.
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_GMUSC_8 Bachelor of Music (Honours) 8 Elective
CR_GMUSC_8 Bachelor of Music (Honours) 6 Elective