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Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
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Examinations and Assignments:
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Topic: Wagner¿s Ring
Richard Wagner may be the most influential composer who ever lived. Not only an influence on every musician who followed him, he has had an enormous impact on literature, the theatre, visual arts, and even politics. His music is supremely beautiful but controversial. His ideas range from the most exalted, idealistic visions of the future and human possibility to some confused political notions and a particularly virulent antisemitism. He was a particular favorite of Hitler, but also of W.E.B. Du Bois. Of singular importance is his unique, powerful series of four operas, The Ring of the Nibelung. Wagner distilled the complicated world of Norse mythology and related medieval German legends into fifteen hours of intense musical drama. Every composer of opera and concert music since the end of the nineteenth century has been influenced by him, in one way or another, but also many composers of film music, John Williams for example. This year¿s Grammys, for the first time, included an award for best video game score. It went to Stephanie Economou for her music for the imminently Wagnerian "Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok." (Ragnarok is the Norse mythical conception of the end of the world; in German it is called Götterdämmerung, which translates as Twilight of the Gods. The four operas of the Ring cycle are The Rhinegold; The Valkyrie; Siegfried; and Twilight of the Gods.) Wagner¿s Ring has cast a long shadow indeed.
Students will read the libretto of The Ring in translation, as well as selected essays on various aspects of the work. Representative musical passages will be analyzed. Each of the 37 scenes will be shown in class. Special attention will be given to the history of staging The Ring, from the earliest, most naturalistic productions to recent experimental ones. Logistics permitting, the class will binge-watch the entire piece at the end of the course. There will be two short essays and a final project to be determined.
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| Instructor(s): Bruce,Neely Times: ..T.R.. 02:50PM-04:10PM; Location: OLIN327B; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 7 | JR major: 8 | | |
| Seats Available: 3 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: X | JR non-major: X | SO: X | FR: X |
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