Chinese Music and Theater
MUSC 114
Summer 2010
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
EAST 114 |
This course explores a variety of musical and theatrical genres in Chinese culture. A combination of lectures and performance, the course is designed to lead students to comprehend the fundamental concepts of Chinese music and theater through both in-depth reading and hands-on musical practice. The goal of this course is not to master Chinese music and theater, but to cultivate a broad view to appreciate the musical and theatrical diversity in Chinese culture.
The course consists of three interrelated parts. It begins with a survey of music genres in Chinese culture, with a focus on sizhu (silk-and-bamboo) and modern orchestral music. Students will learn diverse musical styles, forms, and instruments not only from a number of audio and video examples, but also by playing some instruments such as dizi (Chinese flute), erhu (Chinese fiddle), and ruan (moon-shaped guitar). Then the course moves onto a section of music in Chinese wuxia (knight-errant) and kunfu movies, exploring how traditional music functions as an integrated part, facilitating the filmic narratives and the construction of Chinese identity and masculinity. The last part of the course highlights Peking (Beijing) opera, a representative form of Chinese theater. Initiated by a brief introduction to the genre, students will spend a great amount of time learning basic movements, acrobatic skills, combat conventions, as well as Peking opera percussion music. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Intercultural Literacy
By studying music and theater from a different culture, students will gain knowledge of cross-cultural encounter; hence promoting a comparative reflection.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA MUSC |
| Course Format: Lecture | 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 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Lau, Frederick. MUSIC IN CHINA: EXPERIENCING MUSIC, EXPRESSING CULTURE, Global Music Series. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
Teo, Stephen. CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS CINEMA: THE WUXIA TRADITION, Tradition in World Cinema. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2009.
Wichmann, Elizabeth. LISTENING TO THEATRE: THE AURAL DIMENSION OF BEIJING OPERA. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1991.
Witzleben, J. Lawrence. "SILK AND BAMBOO" MUSIC IN SHANGHAI: THE JIANGNAN SIZHU INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE TRADITION, World Musics. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1995.
Additional readings in the form of journal articles and book chapters will be distributed in class.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Periodic quizzes, occasional writing assignments, and exercises. The final will consist of a written exam as well as a performance. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
A course with performance component, an experience with playing any kind of instrument, as well as the ability to keep steady rhythm, is helpful, although there is no specific prerequisite. |
| Instructor(s): Weng,Po-wei Times: .MTWRF. 09:00AM-10:40AM; Location: MST301; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: 13 | GRAD: 0 | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 4 | SO: 4 | FR: 3 |
| 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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