Orpheus and Eurydice: the Power of Music
MUSC 120
Spring 2006
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01
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The touching story of the "inventor of music" who reclaims his beloved Eurydice from death, then loses her again, has inspired poets and musicians for centuries. During this course we will scan history for outcroppings of this myth, reading literary texts from the ancient world, including Virgil and Ovid, as well as the modern poetry of Rilke and Ashbery, and delving into more than 30 operas and musical works devoted to this subject. We will pay particular attention to Claudio Monteverdi's opera, ORFEO; Igor Stravinsky's ballet, ORPHEUS; and Philip Glass's chamber opera, ORPHEE, which uses as its text the actual screenplay of a Jean Cocteau film. In addition to occasional quizzes and a paper, the class will also compose a short theater work with music based on some aspect of this classical Greek myth. |
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Essential Capabilities:
None |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA MUSC |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 | | Special Attributes: FYI |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Selected ancient and modern texts and poetry; close listening and study of selected musical works. See course description. Ovid's METAMORPHOSIS;
Virgil's GEORGICS;
Rilke's SONNETS TO ORPHEUS;
Ahsberry's SYRINGA; Monteverdi's ORFEO;
Stravinsky's ORPHEUS;
Cocteau's film ORPHEE; Philip Glass's chamber opera, ORPHEE
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Examinations and Assignments:
Occasional quizzes, one term paper, one group musical composition and performance. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
No musical training required. |
| Instructor(s): Lucier,Alvin A. Times: ..T.R.. 10:30AM-11:50AM; Location: OLIN327B; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 20 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: 4 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 0 | FR: 20 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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