Academic Catalogs

MUS A100: History and Appreciation of Western Classical Music

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 09/25/2019
Top Code 100400 - Music
Units 3 Total Units 
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee Yes
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
Associate Arts Local General Education (GE)
  • OC Humanities - AA (OC1)
Associate Science Local General Education (GE)
  • OCC Arts - AS (OSC1)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
  • Cal-GETC 3A Arts (3A)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • IGETC 3A Arts (3A)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU C1 Arts (C1)

Course Description

A survey of Western Classical Music. The students will gain an appreciation of music from the Medieval to the Modern period. The class will cover the stylistic features of musical genres from the six major historical periods of Western Music. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: MUS 100.C-ID: MUS 100.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Aurally identify and differentiate between the various styles of classical music.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of music history, its composers and compositions.

Course Objectives

  • 1. Describe and classify musical instruments and voices
  • 2. Discuss the historical development of classical music
  • 3. Explain important musical and technical terms in the discussion of classical music.
  • 4. Explain how social influences affected the development of classical music.
  • 5. Identify the different genres of music.
  • 6. Discuss the development of musical styles
  • 7. Identify through listening composition as to its genre
  • 8. Identify through listening the composer of a composition.
  • 9. Identify through listening the compositions placement in a historical period.

Lecture Content

The process of listening to music. The materials of music. Aural and visual identification of musical instruments. string woodwinds brass percussion The human voice. Elements of musical style: melody, harmony, rhythm, form, timbre, tempo, and dynamics. The origins of music. The social settings of music in Western civilization. Selected musical genres and major composers of European, Medieval, and Renaissance Periods. Chant Development of polyphony: organum Vocal genres: Mass, motet, madrigal. Instrumental dances. Composers:  Hildegard von Bringen, Machaut, Palestrina, Monteverdi, Josquin Selected musical genres and major composers of the European Baroque and Rococo Periods. Vocal genres: opera, oratorio, cantata. Instrumental genres: fugue, suite, concerto, concerto grosso. Composers:  Bach, Handel, Purcell, Vivaldi Selected musical genres of the European Classical Period and transition to the Romantic Period. Instrumental genres: sonata, symphony, concerto, chamber music. Vocal genres: opera. Transition from the European Classic to Romantic Period (comparison of styles). Composers:  Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert  Selected musical genres and styles of the European 19th Century/Romantic Period. German Lieder (art song). French Chanson Piano music and comparison of performance styles. Program music. Ballet. Opera styles: Bel Canto, Music Drama, Verismo. Post-Romanticism and Impressionism. Composers:  Brahms, Verdi, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Chopin, Debussey, Puccini Selected musical genres and styles of the Twentieth Century. American music idioms: jazz, rock, country, soul. American Musical theater. Expressionism, Surrealism, Minimalism, and more recent styles. Composers:  Berg, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Reich

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Online Lecture (02X)

Writing Assignments

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Out-of-class Assignments

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Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Written exams Concert report. Aural testing

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

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Eligible Disciplines

Music: Masters degree in music OR bachelors degree in music AND masters degree in humanities OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Forney, Kristine and Joseph Machlis. The Enjoyment of Music, 13th ed. New York: W.W. Norton C., 2019