The course examines the philosophy and aesthetic of Classicism and the various ways in which the term has been applied to music from a broad interdisciplinary perspective. There will be a detailed study of the role of classicism as a revitalising force (renaissance) in Western music, and of specific manifestations of ‘classicism' in the history of music (for example, the Baroque revival of classical drama, late-18th century classicism, and neo-classicism in the first half of the twentieth century).

The course examines significant aspects of the complex heritage of Western music and is not bound by time-period. Rather, it encompasses a broad philosophical perspective that establishes historical, social and wide intellectual contexts for the repertoire to be studied. The course also enables students to develop both conceptual and applied knowledge, and encourages them to make informed interpretative decisions about how to evaluate many forms of Western music. The approach will be interdisciplinary and analytical, incorporating also discussion of historical performance practices and other current issues in Musicology.

This course forms part of a three-semester exploration of Western music history, developed by examining the broad repertoire with reference to Classicism, Romanticism, and Modernism and its legacy in turn.

Students will learn to:

1. Identify the central socio-cultural themes embedded in the philosophical idea of Classicism

2. Critique how this idea has impacted upon composers and the creation of music

3. Synthesise and evaluate primary material in relation to Classicism

4. Summarise central arguments from a variety of perspectives and present them coherently in group discussion

5. Analyse both aurally and by score a variety of different music informed by the Classical ideal

6. To gain an understanding of the interpretive impact and the application to a performance environment of the knowledge acquired.

Attendance required at 85% of classes for successful completion.

Essay outline worth 10% addressing learning outcomes 1,2,& 3.

Essay question worth 40% addressing learning outcomes 1,2, & 3.

Exam worth 40% addressing learning outcomes 1,2,3, & 4.

Tutorial participation (may include answering briefly one set question each week - a total of 10) worth 10% addressing learning outcomes 1,2, & 4.

This course will be delivered as a weekly combination of lectures and tutorials, or as a block intensive.

It is recommended that students undertaking this course have basic music theory and reading skills.