Note: This is the 2010–2011 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Program Requirements
This Major concentration studies music as a vital art form in contemporary society and in the history of Western civilization. Its central purpose emphasizes music within broader intellectual and cultural contexts; the Major concentration's premise is that, as a product of culture, music must be considered in relation to the other humanistic disciplines. This degree could be an excellent preparation for graduate work in music (musicology, music theory, music librarianship, music journalism, arts administration) or for professional studies in other fields.
Students in the Major concentration MUST consult the Adviser PRIOR to registration each year. Questions regarding the requirements of the B.A. Major Concentration and especially elective courses should be addressed to Arts OASIS in Dawson Hall.
Prerequisite Courses
Students who have not successfully completed the diagnostic placement exams for the required courses for this program will be asked to register for one or more of the courses below. These courses may not be counted toward the 36 credits of the program requirements.
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MUSP 129 Musicianship 1 (2 credits)
Overview
Musicianship : Rhythm (basic duple-triple divisions); Isolated Sonorities (intervals, triads, tonal-modal collections); non-modulating Tonal Melodic Structures; Score Reading with treble-bass-alto clefs; Atonal Structures (cells with intervals to fifth excluding tritone); species-counterpoint-like Multipart Structures; Repertoire Building (MUTH 110).
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- 2 hours, plus 2 hours Choral Solfège Lab
- Prerequisite: Admission to the B.Mus. or L.Mus. program through audition and placement tests in Musicianship (including Keyboard Proficiency) and Theory. Open to students from other Faculties with permission of Musicianship Co-ordinator; McGill Conservatory Secondary V or equivalent level in Ear Training. Corequisites: MUTH 110 and MUSP 170
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MUSP 131 Musicianship 2 (2 credits)
Overview
Musicianship : Rhythm (quadruple-mixed divisions); Isolated Sonorities (voiced triads, dominant sevenths); chromatically-embellished modulating Tonal Melodic Structures; Score Reading with treble-bass-alto-tenor clefs; Atonal Structures (cells with intervals to seventh); diatonic Harmonic Progressions; Repertoire Building (MUTH 111).
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- 2 hours, plus 2 hours Choral Solfège Lab
- Prerequisite: MUSP 129
- Corequisites: MUTH 111 and MUSP 171
- Students must complete three of five Listening Tasks (one of which must be Tonal Melodic Structures) in the final segments of both MUSP 129 and MUSP 131 before proceeding to the next Musicianship course.
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MUSP 170 Musicianship (Keyboard) 1 (1 credit)
Overview
Musicianship : Harmonic, melodic and rhythmic analysis at the keyboard through the study of rudiments, repertoire, chorale/score reading, transposition and harmonization.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011
Instructors: Kovacs, Jolan Ilona; Davidson, Thomas; Gavrilova, Julia; Choi, Yoo Kyung (Fall) Kovacs, Jolan Ilona (Winter)
- 1 hour
- Prerequisite: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent.
- Corequisites: MUTH 150 and MUSP 140.
- Course contents parallel with those of MUTH 150 and MUSP 140.
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MUSP 171 Musicianship (Keyboard) 2 (1 credit)
Overview
Musicianship : Building chordal fluency. Harmonic vocabulary including sequences, chromaticism and modulation. Chorale and score reading with transposing instruments and alto/tenor clefs.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: Gavrilova, Julia; Pousont, Thomas (Fall) Kovacs, Jolan Ilona; Gavrilova, Julia; Choi, Yoo Kyung (Winter)
- 1 hour
- Prerequisite: MUSP 170
- Corequisites: MUTH 111 and MUSP 131; or MUTH 151 and MUSP 141
- Restriction: All students admitted to B.Mus. and L.Mus. programs, including those with keyboard or guitar as their principal instrument, are required to take MUSP 171 Keyboard Lab, unless exempt on the basis of a placement test. Students who are exempt from MUTH 111 through placement tests must still take MUSP 171 (unless exempt) since this course forms the foundation of keyboard-based musicianship tasks at upper levels. (All Majors in Jazz Performance substitute MUJZ 171 for MUSP 171. Students in Jazz Performance who have completed MUJZ 170 and MUJZ 171, and who transfer to a Department of Theory program, will be required to complete MUSP 171.) Students who do not achieve a continuation pass in MUSP 171 must reregister for the course in the semester immediately following. Students who do not achieve a continuation pass after repeating the course will not be allowed to proceed with further Musicianship or Theory studies until a continuation pass is achieved. Tests for MUSP 171 are held in August-September, December-January, and April-May [as well as during the Summer Session when course(s) offered], the exact dates determined by the Department of Music Research.
- Course contents parallel with those of MUTH 151 and MUSP 141.
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MUSP 172 Keyboard Lab 2 (1 credit)
Overview
Musicianship : Keyboard studies with emphasis on memorization and transposition of diatonic sequences; use of seventh chords in diatonic and chromatic contests; augmented sixth and Neapolitan sixth chords, pivot chords, enharmonic and common-tone modulation; practical command of orchestral score analysis at the keyboard.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: Kovacs, Jolan Ilona; Pousont, Thomas (Fall) Pousont, Thomas (Winter) Davidson, Thomas (Summer)
- Prerequisites: MUSP 131, MUSP 171 and MUTH 111
- Corequisites: MUSO 229, MUTH 210
- Course contents parallel those of MUTH 210, MUSP 229
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MUTH 110 Melody and Counterpoint (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Introduction to principles of melodic and contrapuntal structure through the traditional species of counterpoint: first through fifth species in two parts; first species in three parts. Analysis and compositional modeling of repertoire in medieval-renaissance and 20th-century idioms. Notation, elementary acoustics, review of rudiments.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- 4 hours
- Prerequisite: Matriculation Music or McGill Conservatory Theory Secondary V or its equivalent. Corequisites: MUSP 129 and MUSP 170 or permission of coordinator or instructor.
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MUTH 111 Elementary Harmony and Analysis (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Diatonic chords, harmonic progression, the concept and practice of tonality, simple modulation, seventh chords and secondary dominants. Small forms from c.1700 to the early 19th Century will be analyzed. Written four-part exercises will be required.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- 4 hours
- Prerequisite: MUTH 110
- Corequisites: MUSP 131 and MUSP 171
Required Courses (13 credits)
Prior to registering for the required courses MUSP 229, MUSP 231, MUTH 210, and MUTH 211, students must take the diagnostic placement exams. If the appropriate level is not achieved on the examination, students will be asked to register for one or more prerequisite courses.
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MUHL 570 Research Methods in Music (3 credits)
Overview
Music History and Literature : Survey and critical evaluation of research- and performance-related tools: composers' collected editions, monuments of music, bibliographies of music and music literature, discographies, directories, and databases. Topics will include: developing bibliographies, structuring written arguments, assessing academic and popular writings about music, and understanding the task of the music editor.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- 3 hours
- Prerequisites: MUHL 184 and MUHL 185 and MUTH 211 OR MUCO 240 and MUSP 231. Additional prerequisite: one MUHL or MUPP course at the 300 level or higher, or permission of instructor.
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MUSP 229 Musicianship 3 (2 credits)
Overview
Musicianship : Rhythm (six-, five- and seven-part subdivisions); Isolated Sonorities (triads, dominant, supertonic, leading-tone sevenths); Tonal Melodic Structures tonicizing V, III (also vi, v); Score Reading with treble-bass-alto-tenor clefs; Atonal Structures (basic cell combinations); dance-suite Multipart Structures; Harmonic Progressions including sequential paradigms; Repertoire Building (MUTH 210).
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: Davidson, Thomas; Guzik, John W P (Fall) Guzik, John W P (Winter) Mariner, Justin B (Summer)
- 2 hours
- Prerequisite: MUSP 131
- Corequisite: MUTH 210 and MUSP 172
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MUSP 231 Musicianship 4 (2 credits)
Overview
Musicianship : Rhythm (eight-part subdivisions, smaller note values); Isolated Sonorities (applied, neapolitan, augmented sixth chords); Tonal Melodic Structures tonicizing related scale-steps; Score Reading with treble-bass-alto-tenor-soprano clefs; Atonal Structures (basic cell combinations); instrumental-texture Multipart Structures; applied chords and tonicizations in Harmonic Progression; Repertoire Building (MUTH 211).
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: Asly, Monica (Fall) Davidson, Thomas; Guzik, John W P (Winter) Mariner, Justin B (Summer)
- 2 hours, plus Keyboard lab
- Prerequisite: MUSO 172 and MUSP 229
- Corequisite: MUTH 211
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MUTH 210 Tonal Theory and Analysis 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Compositional resources of early and mid-18th Century music. Thorough review of elementary harmonic procedure. Introduction to chromatic alteration and linear chords, and to analysis of imitative and invertible counterpoint. Analysis of common forms of the period c.1700 - 1770, including principal Baroque forms, but not including the Classical sonata.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Sabourin, Carmen (Fall)
- 3 hours
- Prerequisites: MUTH 110 and MUTH 111
- Corequisite: MUSP 229
- Prerequisite or corequisite: MUSP 171
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MUTH 211 Tonal Theory and Analysis 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Compositional resources of late 18th- and early 19th-century music. Analysis of forms common to the period c.1770 - 1830, including Classical sonata forms in several media. Writing of short pieces for keyboard, piano and voice, and string quartet.
Terms: Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: Caplin, William Earl (Winter) Ferguson, Sean Alastair (Summer)
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: MUTH 210
- Corequisite: MUSP 231
Complementary Courses (20 credits)
Students select from courses offered by the Schulich School of Music except for courses with a MUAR subject code. Students must meet all prerequisite and/or corequisite requirements before registering.
Music History, Literature or Performance Practice
9 credits in Music History, Literature or Performance Practice chosen from courses with the MUHL subject code at the 300-level. An historical performance practice course with the MUPP subject code may be taken with Departmental permission.
Music Theory
6 credits in Music Theory chosen from courses with the MUTH subject code at the 300-level.
MUCO, MUHL, MUTH Courses
8 credits of MUCO, MUHL, and MUTH courses selected from the list below.
Note: In addition to the courses in the list below, a maximum of 3 credits of Music History (MUHL subject code) at the 300-level may be included.
*Note: In the list below, because of overlap of the course content, only one of MUTH 310 or MUTH 327 may be taken.
**Note: In the list below, because of overlap of the course content, only one of MUTH 311 or MUTH 427D1/D2 may be taken.
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MUCO 230D1 The Art of Composition (2 credits)
Overview
Composition
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Students must register for both MUCO 230D1 and MUCO 230D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both MUCO 230D1 and MUCO 230D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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MUCO 230D2 The Art of Composition (2 credits)
Overview
Composition : See MUCO 230D1 for course description.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Prerequisite: MUCO 230D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both MUCO 230D1 and MUCO 230D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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MUCO 260 Instruments of the Orchestra (2 credits)
Overview
Composition : An introductory study of the instruments of string, woodwind and brass families, elementary acoustics of the instruments. Techniques of playing including embouchure, fingering, bowing, hand-stopping, transposing instruments. Evolution of the instruments, their technique and their music from the 18th century to the present.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Hui, Melissa (Fall)
- 2 hours
- Prerequisite: MUTH 150 or MUTH 111
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MUCO 261 Orchestration 1 (2 credits)
Overview
Composition : The history of orchestration. Study of instrumentation and traditional orchestration. Reduction of orchestral scores for piano. Transcription of piano works for string quartet and string orchestra.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Bouliane, Denys (Fall)
- 2 hours
- Prerequisites: MUTH 151, MUSP 141, MUSP 171; or MUCO 260
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MUHL 220 Women in Music (3 credits)
Overview
Music History and Literature : Case studies in contributions of selected women to various areas of music (including composition, teaching, performance, and patronage), in Europe and North America, chosen mainly from 19th and 20th centuries. Topics include: women as amateurs and professionals; past restrictions; movement for full acceptance into "musical mainstream" especially during twentieth century.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Barg, Lisa (Winter)
- 3 hours
- Prerequisites: MUAR 201 or MUAR 211 AND MUHL 184 or MUHL 185 AND MUHL 286; or permission of the instructor
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MUTH 202 Modal Counterpoint 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Polyphonic techniques of the Renaissance period studied through analysis of works by Palestrina and others and through written exercises in two to three voices.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Schubert, Peter N (Fall)
- 3 hours
- Prerequisites: MUTH 211 or MUCO 240D1/D2 AND MUSP 231 and MUSP 171; or MUSP 140, MUSP 170, MUTH 150
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken MUTH 301.
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MUTH 204 Tonal Counterpoint 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : The contrapuntal techniques of Baroque composers studied through detailed technical analysis of their works and through written exercises in strict style.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Provost, Matthew (Fall)
- 3 hours
- Prerequisites: MUSP 141, MUSP 171, MUTH 151; or MUTH 211 or MUCO 240D1/D2 AND MUSP 231 and MUSP 171
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken MUTH 303
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MUTH 302 Modal Counterpoint 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Continuation of Modal Counterpoint I. Study of more advanced techniques through further analysis and written exercises in three or more voices.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: MUTH 202 or MUTH 301
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MUTH 304 Tonal Counterpoint 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Further analysis and written exercises with special emphasis on fugal techniques in free style.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Neidhofer, Christoph (Winter)
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: MUTH 204 or MUTH 303
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MUTH 310 Mid and Late 19th-Century Theory and Analysis (3 credits) *
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Expanded harmonic resources of the late 19th century (e.g., foreign modulation, chromatic harmony). Analysis of characteristic small and large forms. Development of writing and analytical skills with a goal toward perceiving how levels of musical structure interact.
Terms: Fall 2010, Summer 2011
Instructors: Daley, Rene; Biamonte, Nicole; Shin, Minna Re (Fall) Biamonte, Nicole (Summer)
- 3 hours
- Prerequisites: MUTH 211 or MUCO 240 and MUSP 231 and MUSP 171
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MUTH 311 20th-Century Theory and Analysis (3 credits) **
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Exploration of 20th-century systems of pitch organization and attitudes toward counterpoint (e.g., polytonality, modal systems, neo-classical tonality, serialism, linear counterpoint, etc.). Examination of the relationship of these systems to earlier practices. Development of written and analytical skills for the purpose of gaining insight into 20th-century principles and techniques.
Terms: Winter 2011, Summer 2011
Instructors: Wild, Jonathan; Daley, Rene; Bilodeau, Julien; Hui, Melissa (Winter) Ferguson, Sean Alastair (Summer)
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: MUTH 310
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MUTH 327 19th-Century Analysis (4 credits) *
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : The analysis of representative works of the 19th Century, selected from various genres of the period encompassed by late Beethoven, Schubert, and Berlioz to Mahler and Wolf. Some preliminary work in Schenkerian analysis will be undertaken.
Terms: Fall 2010, Winter 2011
Instructors: Wild, Jonathan (Fall) Wild, Jonathan (Winter)
- 2 hours
- Prerequisites: MUTH 211 or MUCO 240 and MUSP 231 and MUSP 171
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MUTH 427D1 20th-Century Analysis (2 credits) **
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Analysis of a cross-section of 20th Century music from Debussy and Mahler to the present to: 1) provide analytical tools necessary for the understanding of pitch organization, form, rhythm, timbre, etc., in individual works; 2) introduce salient theoretical approaches pertaining to 20th Century music.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Neidhofer, Christoph (Fall)
- 2 hours
- Students must register for both MUTH 427D1 and MUTH 427D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both MUTH 427D1 and MUTH 427D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
- Prerequisites: MUTH 211 or MUCO 240 and MUSP 231 and MUSP 171
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MUTH 427D2 20th-Century Analysis (2 credits) **
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : See MUTH 427D1 for course description.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Neidhofer, Christoph (Winter)
- Prerequisite: MUTH 427D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both MUTH 427D1 and MUTH 427D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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MUTH 522D1 Advanced Counterpoint (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Prerequisites: MUTH 211 or MUCO 240D1/D2 or MUTH 250, and MUSP 231 or MUSP 241, and MUSP 171
- Students must register for both MUTH 522D1 and MUTH 522D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both MUTH 522D1 and MUTH 522D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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MUTH 522D2 Advanced Counterpoint (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : See MUTH 522D1 for course description.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Prerequisite: MUTH 522D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both MUTH 522D1 and MUTH 522D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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MUTH 523D1 Advanced Harmony (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : An investigation of pitch systems from the late 19th Century to the present with special reference to Fauré, Mahler, Berg, Scriabin, Delius and Messiaen. The students' work will consist equally of analysis and short written exercises.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- 3 hours
- Prerequisites: MUTH 304 and MUTH 327 or MUTH 327D1/D2 OR MUCO 240D1/D2 OR MUTH 350
- Students must register for both MUTH 523D1 and MUTH 523D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both MUTH 523D1 and MUTH 523D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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MUTH 523D2 Advanced Harmony (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : See MUTH 523D1 for course description.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Prerequisite: MUTH 523D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both MUTH 523D1 and MUTH 523D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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MUTH 528 Schenkerian Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Introduction to the principles and graphing techniques of Schenkerian theory, analysis of tonal works from 1700-1900, and study of prolongational techniques in relation to formal types.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Daley, Rene (Fall)
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: MUTH 251 or permission of instructor.
Faculty of Arts—2010-2011 (last updated Jan. 19, 2011) (disclaimer)