Listening #5

• Louis & Bebe Barron: "Overture" & "Ancient Krell Music", from Forbidden Planet 1958
• Karlheinz Stockhausen: "Kontakte" 1959-1960
• Joji Yuasa: "Projection Esemplastic for White Noise" 1964
• Joe Meek: "I Hear a New World" 1960
• Steve Reich: "Come Out" 1966

Midterm Study Guide

In anticipation of the midterm on Thursday 7/17, I'd like to reiterate the format, give you a few hints, and nudge you to ask any questions you might have. First off, the format again:

3 Musical Selections. (25% of the total grade)

I want to know the title of the piece, who did it, and when. I would also like to know some significant information about it, no more than 2 sentences. Don't put your reactions to the piece a la the weekly homeworks- I've already seen those. Instead, try to show off some knowledge about the piece and its relevance to the class. If you can't remember parts of the three main factoids (title, composer, date), this last bit is a good chance for you to make up some points. I award partial credit, and dates that are within +- 5 years are acceptable.

3 Short Answers. (75% of the total grade)

You will select from a larger pool of possible questions, and write no more than two paragraphs for each question. Include all the facts you can gainfully employ to make your point. I am most interested in your ability to think critically. Referencing readings or conversations we had in class will help you win my favor. Write as little or as much as you think you need to prove yourself worthy.

Not all questions are the same level of difficulty. Undertaking an easier question will result in fewer opportunities for partial credit. Attempting a more challenging question will win you greater tolerance for minor errors. Take risks: I give points for audacity.



Two example short answer questions (neither of which will be on the midterm) are as follows:

"What are some of the effects of widespread mechanical reproduction on art? Support your argument with examples."
Or...
"Both Iannis Xenakis and Luigi Russolo found violence to be beautiful somehow. Compare and contrast their perspectives on this, citing their musical choices and commentary as evidence."



Please email me if you have questions. An example question of yours could be "is XXXXX an appropriate answer to that question?".

In addition to partial credit, I reserve the right, but not the obligation, to offer extra credit. That will be determined the day of the exam.

And now, a short pep talk from my man Leslie Nielsen.

Reading and Listening #4

Reading Selections

• Mark Dery: "Afrofuturism 1.0"
• Peter Shapiro: "Turn the Beat Around"

Listening Selections

• Edgard Varese: "Poeme Electronique", 1958
• Iannis Xenakis: "Concret PH", 1958

Extra Credit

For extra credit, you can watch the classic science-fiction film "Forbidden Planet" (1956) and write a 1-page response to it. In addition to proving you saw the film, please comment on how the themes in the film might be connected to the themes in the class. Just saying that the music is entirely electronic (which it is) is not enough.

To receive credit for this, please turn it in by Thursday, (7/31).

Reading and Listening #3

Reading Selection - Walter Benjamin "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction"
Listening Selections -

• Halim El-Dabh: "The Expression of Zaar", 1944
• Pierre Schaeffer: "Etude aux Chemins de Fer”, 1948
• Gottfried Michael Koenig- "Klangfiguren II", 1956
• John Cage: "Imaginary Landscape no. 1", 1939
• John Cage: "William's Mix", 1950
• Les Paul & Mary Ford: "Little Rock Getaway", 1950

Reading and Listening #2

Reading Selections -

• Russolo: "The Art of Noises"
• Cage: "Credo"
• Cage: "Experimental Music"
• Matossian: "Xenakis"

Listening Selections:

•  Luigi Russolo: "Risveglio Di Una Citta" (Awakening of a City), 1914
•  Henry Cowell: "The Banshee", 1925
• Olivier Messiaen: "Oraison" 1937
• Oskar Sala: "Impression Electronique" 1987
• Clara Rockmore / Nadia Reisenberg: "The Swan" (Camille Saint Saëns) 1977

Reading and Listening #1

Reading Selection - "Theremin in the Press" - Jaime Oliver La Rosa
Listening Selections -

• Raymond Scott: "Lightworks" 1960
• J Dilla: "Lightworks" 2006