Music since 1945 Listening Journals

We've finally come to the end of the semester and the end of another round of 352WI students writing about the music they encounter. This year's students were all eager to explore music a bit off the beaten path, more than usual, so if you look you'll see blog postings about Anthony Braxton, Libby Larson, and Philip Glass's pioneering opera Einstein on the Beach, seen here in legos:

And isn't that a perfect way to end the semester. See you next year!

Listening Journals Up for Music Since 1945

We're knee-deep in finals right now, which means that students are busy with projects including their last listening journal. In many ways, the music from the past 60 years is among the most diverse that we have explored and is a good opportunity to uncover styles you never even considered, like Meredith Monk's vocal virtuosity or John Zorn's stylistic cornucopia. So take the time to listen through the list at the right and be sure to let the students know if you've been enjoying their writing.

Listening Journals for Music Since 1945

We've finally reached the last day of classes in the spring 2009 semester, and so the students have just published their last listening journal. The music for this journal is perhaps the most unfamiliar to the students and to you, but offers a world of unique sounds, such as this clip from John Oswald's "Plunderphonics" version of Stravinsky's familiar Rite of Spring:

You can read about Plunderphonics in several of the journals this time.

We hope you have enjoyed this semester's exploration of music off the beaten path. And as always, feel free to join in our conversation.

Music since 1945 Listening Journals Now Up

The years since 1945 have witnessed an explosion of music, from radical alterations to jazz and "classical" music to the rise of popular genres from rock to hip-hop. Recording technology has changed how we experience that music and, in many ways, fundamentally shaped it as well. For this last listening journal, the class looked at some of the more off-the-beaten path works and I think you'll find their findings and impressions intriguing. As always, these blogs can be found by clicking the links on the right-hand side of the page.

Derek Jenkins: Harry Partch’s The Bewitched and Shulamit Ran's Excursions

Edgar Palacios: Philip Glass’s Einstein on the Beach

Jacque Conover: Ben Johnston’s Fourth String Quartet (Amazing Grace) and Meredith Monk’s Dolmen Music

Karen Anton: Libby Larsen'Deep Summer Music and Harry Partch’s The Bewitched

Katie Kalinowski: Ben Johnston’s Fourth String Quartet (Amazing Grace) and Arnold Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw

Marcus Wiggins: Arnold Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw and John Zorn’s Cat O’ Nine Tails

Mary Ann Lucas: La Monte Young's The Well-Tuned Piano

Mike Herrera: Pauline Oliveros's Sound Patterns and Ben Johnston’s Fourth String Quartet (Amazing Grace)

Paul Shinn: Ben Johnston’s Fourth String Quartet (Amazing Grace) and John Zorn’s Cat O’ Nine Tails

Peter Lawless: John Oswald's Plunderphonics and Alvin Lucier's I Am Sitting In A Room

Richard Gibson: Philip Glass’s Einstein on the Beach

Tom Marks: Meredith Monk's Dolmen Music and Mikel Rouse's Dennis Cleveland