MHST 221 - American Music

Next Offered: First Semester
Semester Offered: Fall Semester
Full Course
Credits: 4 Credits
Attribute: CNDP, DDHU

What does it mean to sound “American”? This course will investigate how “American music has been defined in the United States from the colonial era to the twentieth century. With frequent references to literature and criticism, we will trace the growing rift between so-called classical and popular music in the United States and its implications for composers, performers, and audiences. Topics will include New England Psalmody, shape-note singing, minstrelsy, American opera, Broadway, jazz, serialism, and rock ‘n’ roll.
Enrollment Limit: 30
Instructor: J. O’Leary
Consent of the Instructor Required: No
Prerequisites & Notes
MHST 101 or CMUS 100.