1. Handbook
  2. Subjects
  3. Music History 2: The Long 19th Century

Music History 2: The Long 19th Century (MUSI20198)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville) and On Campus (Southbank)

You’re viewing the 2023 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
Undergraduate programs will be delivered on campus. Graduate programs will mainly be delivered on campus, with dual-delivery and online options available to a select number of subjects within some programs.
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
You’re currently viewing the 2023 version of this subject

Overview

Availability
Summer Term - On Campus
Semester 1 - On Campus
FeesLook up fees

This subject examines music in the European art music tradition during the long nineteenth century in its social, cultural and historical contexts. By examining musical works, historical documents, and modern scholarship, students explore not only how musical styles developed within this historical context, but also how the concept of “Western art music” came to be constructed.

In-class discussions, quizzes, and exercises support students as they examine the meanings of this music for listeners both past and present, as well as how these meanings were shaped by issues including gender, race, class, nationalism, colonialism, technology, and cross-cultural contact.

Students complete an original research project on a topic of their choice, which may take the form of an academic research paper, a lecture-recital script, a public musicology project or a grant application.

Assessment tasks and research methods workshops in tutorials support students as they plan, research, and complete their project.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • interpret nineteenth-century music in relation to social, cultural and political contexts;
  • distinguish both aurally and conceptually between major music genres and styles from the long 19th century;
  • communicate persuasively about musical styles or practices of the long nineteenth century in professionally relevant contexts;
  • undertake academic research on a musical topic using appropriate sources and historiographical methods;
  • discuss music convincingly using technical vocabulary appropriate to the subject level.

Generic skills

On completion of this subject, students will have developed:

  • a capacity for independent critical thought;
  • an openness to new ideas;
  • knowledge, skills and practices which provide a basis for independent critical inquiry and research-based writing.

Last updated: 11 April 2024