LS 626 - Music and Technology, 1700 to the Present

(3.00 cr.)

Music in the Western world undergoes continual evolution, and technology contributes to such evolution in a major way. For example, the invention of the microphone eliminated the need for vocalists to project to the audience in a large hall. The valve in brass instruments made it possible for music to change keys more frequently and rapidly. The audio recording has afforded unparalleled access to alien musical cultures but, paradoxically, may have retarded tonal progress. Students explore the influence of technology on music from 1700 to the present. Musicians and works considered range from Beethoven and Wagner to Frank Zappa, Brian Eno, and beyond. Students also have the opportunity to explore others via their own projects.