MHL: Music History

MHL 121. Music in Culture and History. 3 Credits.

A course in appreciating music as an informed listener. Includes an introduction to the basic elements of musical style necessary for understanding music in its cultural and historical context, examination of the great European composers and their masterworks, and topics in popular music, jazz, and/or world music. Ability to read music is NOT expected.
Gen Ed Attribute: Arts Distributive Requirement.
Distance education offering may be available.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 123. Music in Film. 3 Credits.

This course examines the role music plays in films. The first part of the course will focus on gaining a solid understanding of basic musical and cinematic elements. The second part of the course will examine a number of films and film scores in order to develop a historical understanding of cinema and music. This course will help you develop critical listening and viewing skills, and it also offers a film-music history survey and technological advances in cinema and sound.
Gen Ed Attribute: Arts Distributive Requirement.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 125. Perspectives in Jazz. 3 Credits.

Guided listening to improve understanding and enjoyment of jazz with emphasis on jazz heritages, chronological development, and sociological considerations, culminating in an analysis of the eclectic styles of the 1960s and 1970s. Not open to music majors.
Gen Ed Attribute: Arts Distributive Requirement, Diversity Requirement.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 127. Sounds of Philadelphia and its Surroundings. 3 Credits.

This course examines the rich musico-cultural life of Philadelphia and its surroundings. Through a focus on music history, students will study music, culture, politics, history and migration of the Philadelphia area. The topics and genre covered in the course would be broad and diverse in genre and styles of music.
Distance education offering may be available.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.
Repeatable for Credit.

MHL 179. Special Subjects Seminar. 3 Credits.

Significant topics in music history and literature presented by faculty members and/or visiting lecturers. Designed for the nonmusic major who has had little or no previous musical experience. Not open to music majors.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.
Repeatable for Credit.

MHL 180. Global Soundscapes: Music, History, and Society. 3 Credits.

This course examines musical practices and traditions from around the world and explores how music is interrelated with its historical, cultural and social contexts. It introduces students to academic disciplines that study music: music theory, music history, and ethnomusicology. We will gain a global perspective of music by learning about different musical styles and practices, and how cultures shape the creation, performance and consumption of music. The course will also investigate how certain groups of people and their music have been historically marginalized, and how structural inequalities have manifested in the education, performance, and dissemination of music. Students will particularly focus on groups who have been marginalized due to race, ethnicity, and/or immigrant status. By applying the theoretical framework of ethnomusicology, they will study the ways that music has functioned as a way to assert power and give voice to marginalized groups and suppressed issues.
Gen Ed Attribute: Arts Distributive Requirement, Diversity Requirement.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 199. Transfer Credits. 1-10 Credits.

Transfer Credits.
Repeatable for Credit.

MHL 201. Form and Style in the Arts. 3 Credits.

Relationships between the arts (music, literature, fine arts, and dance) stressed through common principles of form and style. Concentration on the development of skills of critical perception through practical application with reference to various arts.
Gen Ed Attribute: Interdisciplinary Requirement.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 210. Music History I. 3 Credits.

An introduction to musical style and listening techniques within a historical context: (1) an introduction to style periods, music listening skills, concepts of form, and style analysis in both Western and non-Western music; (2) historical survey of music beginning with the music of the early Church and continuing through the end of the 16th century. Ability to read and analyze music scores required.
Gen Ed Attribute: Arts Distributive Requirement.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 211. Music History II. 3 Credits.

A historical survey of music from 1600 to 1825. Analysis of appropriate genres, styles, forms, social contexts, aesthetics, and performance practices will be considered.
Pre / Co requisites: MHL 211 requires a prerequisite of C- or better in MHL 210.
Gen Ed Attribute: Speaking Emphasis.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 212. Music History III. 3 Credits.

A historical survey of music from 1825 to the present. Analysis of appropriate genre, styles, forms, social contexts, aesthetic concepts, and performance practices will be considered.
Pre / Co requisites: MHL 212 requires prerequisites of MHL 211 with a C- or better.
Gen Ed Attribute: Interdisciplinary Requirement.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 280. Western Art Music I. 3 Credits.

A historical survey from 1600 to 1825. Analysis of appropriate genres, styles, forms, social contexts, aesthetics, and performance practices are considered.
Pre / Co requisites: MHL 280 requires a prerequisite of C- or better in MHL 180.
Gen Ed Attribute: Speaking Emphasis.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 301. Music and the Related Arts. 3 Credits.

Examines ways in which music parallels at least two other visual, performing, and/or verbal arts in Western and/or non-Western culture. Concentration on the development of skills of critical perception through practical application to music and other arts.
Pre / Co requisites: MHL 301 requires a prerequisite of MTC 212 and MHL 211 or permission of instructor.
Gen Ed Attribute: Interdisciplinary Requirement, Writing Emphasis.
Typically offered in Fall.

MHL 310. Collegium Musicum. 1 Credit.

A chamber ensemble specializing in the use of authentic instruments and performance techniques in the music of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque eras. Membership by audition.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.
Repeatable for Credit.

MHL 312. Women in Music. 3 Credits.

A survey of the role that women played in the history of music from the Middle Ages to the present. Open to nonmusic majors and music majors without prerequisites.
Gen Ed Attribute: Arts Distributive Requirement.
Typically offered in Spring.

MHL 325. History of Rock. 3 Credits.

This course traces the development of 1950s rock and roll from its rhythm and blues and country and western sources through the world music influences of the 1970s and beyond.
Gen Ed Attribute: Arts Distributive Requirement.
Typically offered in Spring.

MHL 380. Western Art Music II. 3 Credits.

A historical survey of music from 1825 to the present. Analysis of appropriate genres, styles, forms, social contexts, aesthetic concepts, and performance practices are considered.
Gen Ed Attribute: Writing Emphasis.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 420. World Music. 3 Credits.

An introduction to the study of tribal, folk, popular, and oriental music and ethnomusicology methodology. Open to music majors and nonmusic majors without prerequisites.
Typically offered in Spring.

MHL 422. History of Jazz. 3 Credits.

A survey of the history of jazz, including representative performers and their music.
Pre / Co requisites: MHL 422 requires a prerequisite of MHL 212.
Typically offered in Fall.

MHL 440. Medieval Music. 3 Credits.

Development of plainsong and secular monody and beginnings of early history of polyphony through the 14th century. Consideration of trends in the visual arts, history and literature.

MHL 454. History of Opera. 3 Credits.

A basic course in the origin and development of opera and its dissemination throughout the Western world.
Pre / Co requisites: MHL 454 requires a prerequisite of MHL 212 or MHL 380.
Gen Ed Attribute: Writing Emphasis.
Typically offered in Spring.

MHL 455. History of Orchestral Music. 3 Credits.

In this course, students will examine the repertory of orchestral music from the mid-eighteenth century to the early twentieth century. The symphony will be the focus; other orchestral genres such as the symphonic poem and music drama will be considered when pertinent to the development of orchestral music. Students will focus on score study and listening in order to develop skills of musical and stylistic analysis with reference to orchestral music, emphasizing aspects such as instrumentation, orchestration, texture, and form to show the evolution of orchestral music into the twentieth century.
Pre / Co requisites: MHL 455 requires a prerequisite of MHL 380 or MHL 212.
Gen Ed Attribute: Writing Emphasis.
Typically offered in Fall.

MHL 459. Topics in American Music. 3 Credits.

Survey of the development of music and musical styles from 1620 to the present. Analysis of styles, forms, aesthetic concepts, and practices.
Pre / Co requisites: MHL 459 requires a prerequisite of MHL 212 or MHL 380.
Gen Ed Attribute: Writing Emphasis.
Typically offered in Fall & Spring.

MHL 479. Topics in Music History I. 3 Credits.

Significant topics presented by faculty members and/or visiting lecturers. Designed to meet specific needs of undergraduate music majors.
Repeatable for Credit.

MHL 480. Topics in Music History II. 3 Credits.

Significant topics presented by faculty members and/or visiting lecturers. Designed to meet specific needs of undergraduate music majors.
Repeatable for Credit.

MHL 481. Independent Study. 1 Credit.

Contact department for more information about this course.
Repeatable for Credit.

MHL 482. Independent Study. 2 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.
Repeatable for Credit.

MHL 483. Independent Study. 3 Credits.

Contact department for more information about this course.
Repeatable for Credit.

MHL 498. Senior Project I. 3 Credits.

Research and writing for Music History Senior Project.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.

MHL 499. Senior Project II. 3 Credits.

Completion of research and writing for Music History Senior Project.
Consent: Permission of the Department required to add.