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MUMH 6160, Fall 2012: Alban Berg’s Music and His Changing Viennese Milieu
Dr. Notley/ Room 295 Music Building
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:00–3:20 p.m.
Office: Room 319Phone: 565–3751
Hours: Tues. 11–12; Thurs. 12–1;E-mail:
and by appointment: the set hours may change because of committee meetings
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES: Berg, like Webern, followedSchoenberg’s path from tonality to free atonalityand then the twelve-tone method. Recent scholarship has also emphasized the early and continuing impact of Mahler and of other, later composers who did not embrace atonality. This course treats in detail a large selection of Berg’s works, when appropriate in the context of works by other composers, as well as in the context of broader social changes in a city that was briefly a center of modernism at the turn of the twentieth century before it reverted to artistic conservatism.
The objectives, then, are that you will
- Know well, and be able to discuss and write about, most of Berg’s oeuvre.
- Understand, and be able to discuss and write about, Berg’s development as a composer in the context of music by other composers and in broader Viennese contexts.
- Think more critically about how you conduct your own work.
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:
- A seminar works only if all students attend class and participate regularlyin the discussions: you learn from preparing for class and engaging in discussion. Students are therefore expected to be present and prepared for each class. The attendance points are there for each student to keep or lose!
- A student will lose two (2) points from his or her attendance grade for each unexcused absence and may be dropped from the roll with a WF after four (4) absences of any kind. The university recognizes only two types of absences as excused: those for religious holidays or for school-sponsored activities. For an absence to be considered excused, I must receive proper documentation. Absences for auditions and other important events may be considered excused: you must check with me first. The university does not recognize illness as a reason for an absence to be excused.
- An absence from any one of the classes devoted to mid-term presentations will result in the subtraction of three (3) points from the student’s final grade, and an absence from any one of the classes devoted to final presentations will result in the subtraction of five (5) points from the student's final grade.
- A late arrival or early departure counts as a half or full absence, depending on how much of the class the student misses.
- I’ll take notes on students’ participation. Make sure that you prepare for and participate in each class. Again, this is essential for a seminar. Please note: I may make additional short written assignments to ensure that each student participates. If you want to avoid the extra writing, prepare and participate vigorously from the beginning.
EXPECTATIONS: In addition to coming prepared to each class and participating actively in class discussions, each student must write a short paper, lead class discussion once, and complete a mid-term project and a final project. The distribution for the final grade is as follows:
Attendance: 6 %
Participation: 9 %
Leading class discussion once 5 %
Short paper on Op. 1, 4, 5, or 610 %
Wozzeck paper and presentation20 % (5 % for presentation, 15 % for paper)
Final paper and presentation:50 % (20 % for presentation, 30 % for paper)
LEADING CLASS DISCUSSION: As a way of promoting class discussion, I am requiring each student to lead discussion once, in addition to participating fully. Leading class discussion doesn’t substitute for participation; please note that the points are allotted separately.
SHORT PAPERS: These will be on assigned topics; the required length is a minimum of 4 pages.
MID-TERM (WOZZECK) AND FINAL PROJECTS: Each project will involve an oral presentation and a written paper. The Wozzeck papers must be 5 to 7 pages long; the presentations are to last 10 minutes. Final papers must be 10 to 15 pages long; the presentations are to last 20 minutes.
MATERIALS:At times I’ll place some course materials on reserve in the Union Copy Store, so that students can make photocopies at the lowest possible price. Scores and books for this class are on carrel 404. Recordings for this class are on reserve in the Audio Library.
WEEKLY OVERVIEW OF PIECES BY BERG COVERED (SUBJECT TO REVISION)
WEEKTOPICS
1 (8/30)Introduction
2 (9/4) Piano Sonata, Op. 1
3 (9/11)Berg’s Aphoristic Works, Op. 4 and Op. 5
4 (9/18)Berg’s Op. 6 and the Influence of Mahler
5 (9/25)International Celebrity Achieved: Wozzeck
6 (10/2)International Celebrity Achieved: Wozzeck
7 (10/9)International Celebrity Achieved: Wozzeck
8 (10/16)Wozzeck presentations and papers
9 (10/23)A Tribute of Sorts: Berg’s Chamber Concerto
10 (10/30)Mahler, Zemlinsky, and Berg’s “Latent Opera,” the Lyric Suite
11 (11/6)Mahler, Zemlinsky, and Berg’s “Latent Opera,” the Lyric Suite
12 (11/13)Symphonic Pieces from “Lulu”
13 (11/20)Violin Concerto; NO CLASS ON NOVEMBER 22 (THANKSGIVING)
14/ (11/27)Violin Concerto; Final presentations
15(12/4)Final presentations
Thursday, 13 December, 1:30–3:30: FINAL EXAM TIME will be used for final presentations. All final papers are due on Friday, 14 December, by 11 a.m. This is an inflexible deadline; budget your time wisely.
SPECIAL NOTICES FROM THE ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS:
Office of Disability Accommodation
The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. If a disability is verified, the ODA will provide you with an accommodation letter to be delivered to faculty to begin a private discussion regarding your specific needs in a course. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class. For additional information see the Office of Disability Accommodation website at You may also contact them by phone at 940.565.4323.
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