MSC 1003 - Music in Civilization

Welcome to week two of Music in Civ! As usual, I have a lot to tell you.

This class was on zoom, again

Just like the first week, CUNY decided that we could not meet in person for Wednesday. So instead we zoomed.

Like with in-person class, this zoom was optional! If you want to just keep doing our units here on the website, you can. In the zoom we did Assignments 6 and 7 together, and we crammed Assignment 9 into the 12:50 session.

After this week, we get two weeks off

This is kind of a crazy aspect of the calendar. Sept 8 is off because of Rosh Hashanah, and then Sept 15 is the eve of Yom Kippur. Our next class will be on Wednesday, Sept 22.

The good thing about this is that we can be somewhat optimistic and look forward to meeting in person on Sept 22. And I'll try to post a decent amount of work online so you can get ahead during all of this down time.

Playlists

One easy thing you can do while we are off is listen to our playlists. The more familiar you get with this music, the better you'll understand it.

Medieval Period: YouTube / Spotify / Apple Music
Renaissance: YouTube / Spotify / Apple Music

Assignment #6: Hildegard of Bingen

Note: We did this one together on the Sept 1 zooms.

...but if you want to do it on your own, please read our page on Hildegard, who was the most prolific composer of her era.

Then, Assignment #6 will ask you some questions.

This one is due before Class 3 (Wed, Sept 22).

Assignment #7: Pérotin's Viderunt omnes

This is another one that we did on the Sept 1 zooms.

...but if you want to do it by yourself, check out one of the first polyphonic compositions in Western history.

Assignment #7 asks you six questions about it.

This is another assignment that we'll do before Class 3 (Sept 22).

Assignment #8: Medieval Instruments

This assignment is really somewhat hefty. First, please watch our online material on Medieval and Renaissance instruments.

Then, Exercise #8 asks you eighteen[!] questions about all of it.

This assignment is due before Class 3 (Sept 22).

Assignment #9: Minstrels and Troubadours

We rushed through this one in one of the zooms, and that section got credit for it. 😕

First, look at our online material about minstrels and troubadours.

Then, Exercise #9 asks you seven questions about it.

This one is also due before Class 3 (Sept 22).

Assignment #10: Machaut's Messe de Nostre Dame

First, read and watch my material on this historically important work.

Then, Assignment #10 asks you five questions about it.

This one due a little later, before Class 4 (Sept 29).

Assignment #11: Intro to Renaissance

Our online intro to the Renaissance actually has two pages to it.

Part I: Intro to Renaissance
Part II: Sacred Music in the Renaissance

Assignment #11 asks you thirteen questions which cover both parts.

This one is due a little later, before class on Sept 29.

Old Stuff

So now we have a lot of assignments loaded up for Sept 22, and a few for Sept 29.

From week one:

RIP Lee "Scratch" Perry (1936-2021)

Lee Perry was a pioneer of dub reggae, a style that featured remixes drenched in reverb, echo, and other special effects.

Track Links: YouTube Spotify Apple Music