MUS 261 - Music in Europe to 1750

4 credits (Fall or Spring)

Much of the world’s music produced before the development of recording technology in the 20^th century is lost to us. The major exception is Europe, where a system of written notation emerged 1200 years ago, preserving a musical legacy of incredible beauty. This course explores music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque. Through intensive listening and musical analysis, close reading of historical texts, and interrogation of socio-political institutions and cultural forces, students develop broad musical and academic skills that enrich and facilitate further studies both in the field of music and across disciplines. Introduces the principal research tools and methods in the field of musicology, and provides hands-on application of historical information using Grinnell’s outstanding collection of historical instruments.

Prerequisite: MUS 112 with grade S, C, or better. MUS 213 highly recommended.
Note: Plus-2 option available. Not offered every year.
Instructor: Brown