MHST 335 - The Orchestra: Past and Present

In this course, students will explore the symphony orchestra from its beginnings in the seventeenth century to the present.  The course will understand the orchestra as a medium for musical performance, as an influential force in the creation of musical works, a cultural object in the collective imagination, and an economic touch-point for professional musical life in the community.  Students will consider the growth of the orchestra through analysis of various works, the earliest of which include the operas of Jean-Baptiste Lully, the concertos of Arcangelo Corelli, and the music of German town bands of the seventeenth century.  One portion of every class meeting will be devoted to the study of instruments, using artifacts from the Selch Collection whenever possible.  Concurrently, we will pay special attention to economic models, noting how orchestras were funded and reasons for shifts in the model.
Enrollment Limit: 15
Instructor: S. Gerk
Consent of the Instructor Required: Yes
Prerequisites & Notes
One 200-level MHST course, or consent of the instructor.