Bess Xintong Liu

This course is designed to introduce students to the study of Asia and the Middle East within the context of the global humanities. It serves as a sampler, which exposes students to the rich diversity of Asian and Islamicate humanities. The seminar explores a wide range of primary sources from different places and historical periods. These may include such diverse materials as the memoirs of the medieval Muslim traveler Ibn Battuta, "The Analects of Confucius," readings from the "Vedas" and "Upanishads," Farid ud din Attar's "The Conference of the Birds," Kurosawa's "Rashomon," Rabindranath Tagore's "The Home and The World," short fiction from the modern Palestinian author Ghassan Kanafani and examples of contemporary Chinese science fiction. This interdisciplinary course does not count toward the completion of any diversification requirement. Only open to first-year students.

Prerequisite This course is an introduction to the various styles and practices of music throughout the world. Central to the course will be Western art music from the middle-ages through the post-modern period, along with jazz and music from Asia and Africa. Guest lectures may be given by various members of the music department faculty. While the focus will be on understanding musical elements, emphasis will also be placed on the cultural forces— artistic, political, religious, philosophical, literary—that contributed to the development of the various styles and practices. This course fulfills the music history prerequisite for upper-level courses offered by the music department and is recommended for students who are considering the music major or minor. MUSC 102, 105, and 107 all serve as introductory courses in music history and satisfy the same prerequisites. Students may enroll in only one of these courses. This course complements the introductory music theory courses MUSC101 and MUSC 121Y-122Y. No prequisite.

This course is a writing-intentional survey of Western art music from the Middle Ages through the post-modern period that includes an introduction to music of non-Western cultures. It has been designed for first-year students who have some background in music theory and the ability to read a musical score. While the composers and their compositions are central to the course, social, artistic, political, religious, philosophical and literary forces that shaped each era also be explored. Readings from primary sources supplement the basic text, and students are introduced to the research methods used in the fields of historical musicology and ethnomusicology. This course fulfills the music history prerequisite for upper-level courses offered by the music department and is recommended for students who are considering the music major or minor. This counts as a prerequisite for upper-level courses offered by the music department. Suggested for first-year students or those new to the department. MUSC 102, 105 and 107 all serve as introductory courses in music history and satisfy the same prerequisites. Students may enroll in only one of these courses. This counts toward the history requirement for the major. Prerequisite: AP music theory score of 4 or 5 or music theory placement exam. Offered every year.

This course provides study of the music of the Sundanese gamelan degung, a traditional ensemble incorporating different types of tuned bronze percussion, drums, flutes and vocals. Students are introduced to basic and advanced instrumental techniques for several individual gamelan instruments and receive coaching in musicianship and ensemble skills. A variety of repertories is covered. Each semester culminates in one public performance. No musical experience is required. This course can be used to satisfy diversification requirements in anthropology as well as music. This is not a yearlong course, and registration is required each semester. Permission of instructor required. No prerequisite.