Widener University

Music Courses

ACADEMIC        PERFORMANCE

• MUS 101 HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF MUSIC I
  An introduction to the language of music and a survey of music in Western civilization from the Middle Ages through Bach. 3 semester hours

• MUS 102 HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF MUSIC II
  An introduction to the language of music and a survey of music in Western civilization from 1750 to the present. 3 semester hours

• MUS 105 CONCEPTS OF MUSIC
  This course surveys Western music from the medieval period up to the present day, as well as a limited number of non-Western music. The former is examined from an historical perspective; the latter, from a cultural perspective. Upon successful completion of the course, students will have the ability to critically evaluate a composition for stylistic content and historical characteristics. This course differs from MUS 101 and 102 in its subject matter, and in the substantial writing and listening components. Non-Western topics include Native American, Ghanaian, and Japanese music. Western music topics/composers include Gregorian chant, symphony, and 20th-century experiments; Bach, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Wagner, Stravinsky, and Glass. 3 semester hours

• MUS 109 AMERICA’S MUSIC
  Treatment of the music of the United States which reveals the diversity of America’s music from the early 17th century until the present. The factors that have contributed to the music’s growth including folk, sacred, and secular elements are discussed. 3 semester hours

• MUS 120 MUSIC THEORY
  This course serves as an introduction to music theory of the common practice period (1600–1900): scales, intervals, chords, rhythm, and melodies. Each concept is illustrated with practical examples that expose students to a wide variety of forms and styles including classical, pop, musical theater, film music, hymns, spirituals, folksongs, and children’s songs. Students will be provided with written, aural, and performance experiences. Does not meet the history general education requirement. 3 semester hours
  

• MUS 306 MUSIC OF THE CLASSICAL PERIOD
  This course examines music of the second half of the 18th century. Although the focus will be on the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, and Ludwig van Beethoven, students will also look at the place of the musician in society, lesser-known composers, and the development of genres such as the string quartet, the symphony, and opera. 3 semester hours

• MUS 307 MUSIC OF THE ROMANTIC ERA
  The course examines Western European 19th-century music. Students study works by both well-known composers such as Schubert, Brahms, and Wagner, and lesser known ones such as Balakirev, Field, and Clara Schumann. Selected topics for discussion include the impact of Beethoven, the lied, keyboard works, symphonic traditions, and opera. 3 semester hours

• MUS 308 MUSIC OF THE 20TH CENTURY
  Developments in musical composition in the 20th century. Examination of styles and composers from impressionism to the electronic age. 3 semester hours

• MUS 309 AMERICAN MUSIC: 1890–1980S (HONORS)
  This honors course examines music in the United States from 1890 to the 1980s. Topics include music of the cultivated tradition, jazz, musicals, and various popular genres. 3 semester hours

• MUS 371 POSTROMANTICISM: 1875–1915
  An examination of the music of the postromantic period (1875–1915). Students focus on works by such composers as Bizet, Debussy, Franck, Mahler, Mascagni, Schoenberg, Strauss, and Wolf, with particular attention paid to the influence of Wagner and the role of text in generating sound and structure. 3 semester hours

• MUS 391 20TH-CENTURYAMERICAN MUSICAL (HONORS)
  The American musical is a distinctively American art form that took shape during the first half of the 20th century. Throughout the century, it developed and evolved, reflecting events and changes in American society and culture. This course considers selected American musicals through the lens of entertainment, identity, ethnicity, and genre. Using original literary texts as a point of departure, students examine the transformation of these works from play, novel, or short story to musical, and determine how music and lyrics serve, ignore, or contradict the dramatic themes and ideas. 3 semester hours

INSTRUMENTAL

• MUS 051 WIND ENSEMBLE I
  A performance-based class that focuses on contemporary American band literature. Students meet weekly throughout the academic year and perform on campus. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to three times. 0 semester hours
  
• MUS 151 WIND ENSEMBLE II
  A continuation of MUS 051. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: 3 semesters of MUS 051 and permission of instructor. 2 semester hours
  
• MUS 152 WIND ENSEMBLE III
  A continuation of MUS 151. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: MUS 151 and permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to four times. 0.5 semester hours
  
• MUS 061 JAZZ ENSEMBLE I
  A performance-based class that focuses on the classical jazz idiom. Students meet weekly throughout the academic year and perform on campus. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to three times. 0 semester hours
  
• MUS 161 JAZZ ENSEMBLE II
  A continuation of MUS 061. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: 3 semesters of MUS 061 and permission of instructor. 2 semester hours
  
• MUS 162 JAZZ ENSEMBLE III
  A continuation of MUS 161. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: MUS 161 and permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to four times. 0.5 semester hours
  
• MUS 251 WIND INSTRUMENT STUDIO
  Private wind instrument instruction. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Corequisite: MUS 051, 151, or 152. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to eight times. 0.25 semester hours
  
• MUS 252 PERCUSSION STUDIO
  Private percussion instruction. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Corequisite: MUS 051, 151, or 152. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to eight semesters. 0.25 semester hours

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CHAMBER

• MUS 041 CHAMBER ENSEMBLE I
  A performance-based class focusing on chamber literature from the Baroque period up to the present day. Students are organized into groups according to ability and meet twice a week throughout the academic year. Performances are on campus. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to three times. 0 semester hours
  
• MUS 141 CHAMBER ENSEMBLE II
  A continuation of MUS 041. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: 3 semesters of MUS 041 and permission of instructor. 2 semester hours
  
  
• MUS 142 CHAMBER ENSEMBLE III
  A continuation of MUS 141. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: MUS 141 and permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to four times. 0.5 semester hours
  
  
• MUS 241 STRING INSTRUMENT STUDIO
  Private violin, viola, cello instruction. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Corequisite: MUS 041, 141, or 142. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to eight times. 0.25 semester hours
  
  
• MUS 242 KEYBOARD STUDIO
  Private keyboard instruction. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Corequisite: MUS 041, 141, or 142. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to eight times. 0.25 semester hours

CHORAL/VOCAL

• MUS 021 GOSPEL CHOIR I
  A performance-based class focusing on traditional and contemporary gospel literature. Students perform several times a semester. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to three times. 0 semester hours
  
  
• MUS 121 GOSPEL CHOIR II
  A continuation of MUS 021. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: 3 semesters of MUS 021 and permission of instructor. 2 semester hours
  
  
• MUS 122 GOSPEL CHOIR III
  A continuation of MUS 121. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: MUS 121 and permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to four times. 0.5 semester hours
  
  
• MUS 031 WIDENER CHORALE I
  A performance-based class focusing on choral literature from the Renaissance period up to the present day. Students will perform at least once a semester. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to three times. 0 semester hours
  
  
• MUS 131 WIDENER CHORALE II
  A continuation of MUS 031. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: 3 semesters of MUS 031 and permission of instructor. 2 semester hours
  
  
•  MUS 132 WIDENER CHORALE III
  A continuation of MUS 131. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Prerequisite: MUS 131 and permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to four times. 0.5 semester hours
  
  
• MUS 231 VOCAL STUDIO
  Private vocal instruction. Does not satisfy the humanities distribution requirement. Corequisite: MUS 031, 131, or 132. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Students may enroll in the course up to eight times. 0.25 semester hours