Arizona State University School of Music

Course Syllabus

MUP 451 Piano Literature II

Professor: Walter Cosand

Office W-254, Phone 480-965-4254

Spring 2012

Mondays 3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Room: Music W254

Course Description:

This is a piano literature survey course, designed to familiarize piano students with the major works of our vast piano literature and spanning the period from about 1825 through about 1925. The aim of this course is to equip the students with a clear historical and chronological understanding and appreciation of the achievements of solo piano composers and the evolution of the solo piano literature and its performance practice during this time period.

Emphasis will be placed upon aural recognition of major works, gained by listening experience. Recordings and the interpretations of great artists will be discussed. Attendance at some recitals may be required. General knowledge of historical and stylistic characteristics within this body of literature and an awareness of changing attitudes toward performance practice will also be emphasized. This course will also be “hands-on”, that is to say -- active participation is desired! Any current repertoire being studied in studio instruction, appropriate to the time frame of this course, will be most welcomed to be performed and discussed in the class.

In addition to the lectures, discussions and listening, there will be two listening quizzes in the semester as well as one 30-minute presentation by each student on a specific topic of interest pertaining to the class’s subject. Presentations may be made, for example, on the music of Antheil, Bortkiewicz, Copland, Cowell, Dett, Grainger, Grieg, Ives, Korngold, Lyapunov, Medtner, Mompou, Ornstein, Reger, Rubinstein, Saint-säens, Satie, Shostakovitch, Slonimsky, or Szymanowski.

Required Textbook:

Hinson: Guide to the Pianist’s Repertoire

Grading:

The grade will be computed as such: attendance and active class participation (30%), Listening quizzes (each 20%) and the individual 30-minute presentation (30%).

Weekly outline of the course (tentative):

Jan. 9: Introduction to Course, Hummel, Weber, Beethoven

Jan. 16 NO SCHOOL

Jan. 23 Clementi, Schubert, Czerny

Jan. 30 Mendelssohn, Schumann

Feb. 6 Field, Chopin

Feb. 13 Liszt, Franck

Feb. 20 Brahms, Balakirev, Moussorgsky

Feb. 27 Tchaikowsky, Scriabin + Listening Quiz #1

Mar. 5 Fauré, Debussy, Ravel

Mar. 12 Granados, Albeniz, De Falla

Mar. 19 NO SCHOOL

Mar. 26 Rachmaninoff, Bartok

Apr. 2 Hindemith, Berg, Schoenberg

Apr. 9 Prokofiev, Stravinsky

Apr. 16 Student Presentations

Apr. 23 Student Presentations + Listening Quiz #2

Downloadable Sheet Music:

Please notice that my website offers a library of free public domain digital sheet music at: http://www.waltercosand.com/CosandScores

Problems?

See me about problems with this course. I can be reached by phone or by e-mail. My office hours are posted at http://www.waltercosand.com/office-hours.html