Music

Professor Thomas Forrest Kelly, Head Tutor

The concentration in Music emphasizes the acquisition of a solid foundation in the theory, analysis, history, and literature of music. It thereby provides an understanding of music in cultural and historical contexts as well as an introduction to composition, analysis, and criticism. The Department of Music also strongly encourages performance on the part of its students. The program is not directed primarily toward students planning careers in performance fields, but serves such students by deepening their intellectual involvement with the music they are to play.

Many of the courses in the field are required, leaving few electives. Students begin musicological training with an intensive one-year survey (Music 97); this course gives students an extensive basic knowledge of the history and literature of Western music, as well as an introduction to basic principles of ethnomusicology. Further musicological work proceeds through proseminars, for small groups and taught for the most part by senior faculty, that explore in detail selected musicological issues and direct students toward significant independent projects. Training in theory and composition begins with two full-year courses dealing with the notation and structure of Western music. Students then choose among several options for further training in courses that focus on composition (counterpoint, in the style of Palestrina or of Bach) or analysis (of tonal music or of twentieth-century compositions).

Students who enter with a significant background in theory can bypass the first year of the theory sequence and replace it with an elective. Students lacking a theory background are urged to take Music 51 in the freshman year, if at all possible, or in the sophomore year in any case. It is very difficult to complete the concentration requirements if Music 51 is not completed before the junior year (although it is sometimes possible for joint concentrators).

All concentrators are required to take Music History and Repertory (Music 97). Juniors intending a senior thesis are particularly invited to take at least one term of junior tutorial (Music 98) as an elective. This consists of individual work with a faculty member of the student's choice; it is especially useful in preparation for a senior thesis. Students not intending a senior thesis are also welcome to take junior tutorial as an elective, should they wish to and should they find a willing supervisor on the faculty. For those writing senior theses, a year of senior tutorial (Music 99) is required. Senior theses involve written documents, in connection either with studies of a scholarly nature, or with original compositions. Senior recitals are encouraged, but do not count as senior theses. There are no General Examinations for undergraduates, though there is a musicianship examination described in item four of Basic Requirements.

The department encourages joint concentrations combining two subjects such as Music and English, Music and History, Music and Psychology, or others. For joint concentrators each of the two departments involved generally reduces its requirements to some extent. A senior thesis is required on a topic in which both fields are represented.

For students who wish to pursue a program with more emphasis on performance, the department offers the Five-Year Program. Students approved by the department and the Administrative Board for this program take the normal number of courses in their freshman year, but then work at the three-course rate for the four years following. This permits more intensive work in performance. These students are expected to give a senior recital.

Students who have taken college courses in music at other institutions may receive concentration credit for work done elsewhere. This ordinarily involves a written petition to the faculty and may require taking an examination in the materials of the course for which credit is requested.

For information on the secondary field in Music, please see page 356 of this Handbook or the secondary fields website (www.secondaryfields.fas.harvard.edu/Music/program-desc-Music.htm).

REQUIREMENTS

Basic Requirements: 14-15 half-courses

1. Required courses:
1. Music 51: Theory I (full course).
2. Music Ar: Musicianship (2 terms, in the sequence fall/spring).
3. Music 154: Theory II (full course).
4. Two of the following: Music 155: Modal Counterpoint; Music 156: Tonal Counterpoint; Music 157x: Tonal Analysis; Music 157y: Twentieth-Century Analysis; Music 158: Interpreting Musical Performance.
5. Music 97: Music History and Repertory (full course).
6. Three of the following proseminars: Music 190r: Topics in World Music; Music 191r: Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Music; Music 192r: Topics in Music from 1600 to 1800; Music 193r: Topics in Music from 1800 to the Present; Music 194r: Special Topics.
   Note: Music 182: 17th-Century and 18th-Century Performance Practice may be counted for concentration credit for Music 192r. Music 183: 19th-Century and 20th-Century Performance Practice may be counted for concentration credit for Music 193r.
7. One of the following:
1. Music 160r: Composition: Proseminar; or Music 167r: Electro-Acoustic Composition.
2. An additional half-course from those listed in 1d above, or Music 158r: Interpreting Musical Performance.
3. An additional half-course from those listed in 1f above.
   Note: A student electing a fourth proseminar from the list in 1f above may take more than one half-course under any of its number headings. However, at least three different number headings must be represented among the courses chosen.
2. Tutorial: Music 97: Music History and Repertory. See item 1e.
3. Senior Project: Students not producing a senior thesis (as described below) will undertake a senior project. The project must be executed within the senior year. It will demonstrate a capacity for original work at an advanced level in a suitable area. Projects will generally engage the work of one term. A project may be undertaken:
1. Within one of the musicology proseminars (Music 190r, 191r, 192r, 193r, 194r) or one of the performance practice seminars (Music 182, 183).
2. As an independent study to pursue further work in a particular area of musicology, via Music 92r during the senior year, following earlier work in one of the proseminars not being offered during the senior year. Such a Music 92r will count toward the department's musicology requirement only when an extra term in the pertinent proseminar would have counted, and only by explicit petition to the department at the beginning of the term.
3. During the second term of Music 160r (composition).
4. During the second term of Music in 167r (electronic composition).
5. As an independent study in composition, via Music 92r during the senior year, following work in Music 160r or 167r during an earlier year.
6. During a second or later term of Music 180r (performance and analysis).
7. As an independent study to pursue a more advanced project in counterpoint or analysis, via Music 92r during the senior year, after having taken a one term course at an entry level in such a subject (Music 155, 156, 157x, 157y, 158).
   A brief, written prospectus for any senior project must be approved (signed) by the instructor and submitted to the Head Tutor no later than the second week of the term.
4. Examination: An examination in musicianship is required of full concentrators to demonstrate a suitable level of proficiency for the major. Music Ar will be helpful in preparing for this examination, but conscientious work and progress in Music Ar, even over two terms with passing grades, does not in itself certify the desired level of proficiency. No concentrator in Music will receive a degree until this requirement has been met.
5. Other information:
1. Students who receive a grade of C+ or lower in Music 51 are discouraged from continuing with Music as a concentration.
2. Concentrators exempted from any required course must take at least 14 half-courses nevertheless.
3. Music 1, 2, 3, 93, 98, 99r, 121a, 125a, and 174 may not be counted for concentration credit. Core courses may not be taken for concentration credit. Music 91r may be counted for concentration credit only with prior approval of the department.
4. Advanced Placement: A theory placement examination is given at the beginning of the fall term. See Dr. John Stewart (617-495-2791).
5. Courses counting for concentration credit may not be taken Pass/Fail, except that one Freshman Seminar may be counted for concentration credit if all of the following conditions are met:
1. The student has been exempted from at least one term of Music 51.
2. The seminar is taught by a faculty member of the Department of Music.
3. The seminar is consistent with Music Department offerings.
4. Approval for concentration credit for the seminar is obtained from the Head Tutor in Music.
5. The student has received a grade of SAT in the seminar in question.

Requirements for Honors Eligibility: 16 half-courses

1. Required courses: Same as Basic Requirements, plus two terms of Music 99r, senior tutorial (see item 2).
2. Tutorial: Two terms of Music 99r, senior tutorial, are required. At least one term of Music 98r, junior tutorial, is strongly recommended, but not required.
3. Thesis: Required of all honors candidates. May be either an original composition or a verbal thesis. Plan or subject to be approved by the department at the end of the junior year. Students wishing to submit a composition as their thesis are requested to submit a portfolio of work for consideration by the composition faculty early in the second term of the junior year. Any change of plan must be resubmitted to the department.
4. Examination: Same as Basic Requirements.
5. Other information: Same as Basic Requirements.

Joint Concentration Requirements: 8 half-courses

1. Required courses: Must include Music 51 (full course), Music 154 (full course), Music 97 (full course), Earlab portion of Music Ar (two terms in the sequence fall/spring; not for credit), and two of the proseminars in music history and world music listed in Basic Requirements item 1f (Music 190r, 191r, 192r, 193r, 194r); two different number headings must be represented. (Music 182 may count for 192r; Music 183 may count for 193r.)
2. Tutorial: Students should enroll in two terms of 99r in their primary department. A faculty adviser in Music will be provided in any case.
3. Thesis: Required. Plan or subject to be approved by both departments at the end of the junior year.
4. Examination: None.

ADVISING

All students are required to confer with the Head Tutor or the Assistant Head Tutor at the outset of their concentration or joint concentration, in order to develop an overall plan for fulfillment of requirements. All concentrators will continue to be advised by one of these two officials at the start of each term.

For up-to-date information on advising in Music, please see the Advising Programs Office website: www.fas.harvard.edu/~advising/concentrations/Music.html.

RESOURCES

The Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library offers an outstanding collection of books and scores, as well as listening equipment for its extensive recording collection. An electronic music studio is available. Instrumentalists have access to the practice rooms, all of which have pianos, and a limited number of instrument lockers are provided. The many musical organizations include the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, the Bach Society Orchestra, the Mozart Society Orchestra, the Harvard Glee Club, the Collegium Musicum, the Radcliffe Choral Society, the Memorial Church Choir, the Group for New Music at Harvard, and the Organ Society. Students interested in composition may submit works for performance at concerts offered by the department and for the Harvard University Prizes. The Office for the Arts offers a special lesson subsidy program (by audition), as well as information on private teachers in the area (see page 514 for more information).

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE

For further information, please contact the Head Tutor, Assistant Head Tutor, or Assistant to the Chair in the Music Building (617-495-2791). You may also wish to consult the department website at www.music.fas.harvard.edu.

ENROLLMENT STATISTICS

Number of Concentrators as of November