This course explores the roots and branches of folk music in the U.S. with an emphasis on the bluegrass tradition. The musical roots of folk and bluegrass originate from a diversity of influences including, Irish, Scottish, and African cultures as well as musical genres such as blues, gospel, country, jazz, and in recent decades rock, pop and funky eclectic sounds. We will explore these influences on folk and bluegrass, which have broadened, narrowed, and combined over the decades. Given the inherently social nature of the subject, students consider music of the past and present through a combination of performance, readings, and listening assignments. Instrumental and vocal tutorials provide both music instruction and a sense of the development of the tradition over time. Emphasis is placed on composition, arrangement, and performance of folk and bluegrass music. This class fulfills the performance-oriented course requirement in the music major. 1 unit.

This course offers an in-depth exploration of Irish and Scots Irish history and culture, with a focus on how these traditions have significantly influenced American folk music, including bluegrass. Through a combination of historical study, cultural immersion, and musical exploration, students will trace the roots or key musical elements and practices that shaped the development of these genres in America. This course will also provide opportunities to examine the migration of people, stories, and sounds from Ireland and Scotland to the American Appalachian region, fostering a deeper understanding of their cultural legacy. This class fulfills the performance-oriented course requirement in the music major. 1 unit.

Thomas Mann’s 1947 novel, Doctor Faustus (originally published in German as, Doktor Faustus: Das Leben des deutschen Tonsetzers Adrian Leverkühn, erzählt von einem Freunde), follows the life of fictional composer Adrian Leverkühn against the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. The rich interplay between different timelines and topics—the narrator’s perspective from within the Third Reich, Leverkühn’s descent into madness, and the Faust legend itself—invite a myriad of interpretations and interdisciplinary approaches. Through the lens of Doctor Faustus, this class will explore the socio-political, literary, and musical history of the German speaking lands during the 19th-20th centuries. Our study of the novel will also give students a broad overview of the history of Western European art music, particularly regarding changing aesthetic values, the ever-evolving role of the composer, and the concept of “genius”. 1 unit – Chang