MUSC 322 - Exploring African - American Voices through Art Songs and Arias by African - American Composers

3 credits
This course examines the solo vocal literature of African - American composers, who are often excluded from resource materials related to American art songs and operas. Through listening to audio recordings, examining the poetry/texts and exploring musical scores, students will discover historical composers as well as those still living, broadening their knowledge and understanding of African - Americans’ contributions to American classical vocal music. Students will utilize literary and musical concepts and historical perspectives (economic, political, cultural, racial) to assess the intent of the poets (in writing the texts) and the composers (realized in their art songs and arias) which were often based on societal and cultural trends that inspired the creation of the works.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of FAES Pillar
Corequisite(s): None

*Fulfills Civitae Core PAES
SI