2017-18 Academic Catalog

This course outlines the history of the musical from Tin Pan Alley, through the golden age of Broadway with Rodgers and Hammerstein, to the current sensation "Hamilton," passing through the works of Stephen Sondheim. We will study the development of this hybrid genre by considering musical elements such as form, instrumentation, and harmony as well as dramatic, choreographic, and staging components. Additionally, social questions such as the representation of women and minority cultures, as they concern the works themselves and their audiences, will guide our readings and class discussion. Ability to read music not required.