MUHL 3771 - Music History and Literature 1: World Music
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 40142,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
Log in to view more
Instructor
Glenn Schaft
Email: geschaft@ysu.edu
Course Description
3771. Music History and Literature 1: World Music. An introduction to the intersection of music and culture. Students will explore the cultural contexts and the social, economic, and technological forces that influence the creation and dissemination of music. In addition to the core content of the class, students will be introduced to parallel narratives in the visual arts, literature, and theater. Students will demonstrate, through examination and written assignments, their understanding of how music history is a function of cultural values and choices. Sophomore standing or permission of instructor required. 3 s.h.
•Honors Contract: option is available per instructor permission. Find out more about Honors Contracts.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | What Is Music? Definitions | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Music In Culture | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Music As Process | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | How Music Is Transmitted and Preserved; Oral traditions, notation, recordings | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Six characteristics of musical sound; pitch, duration, intensity, timbre, texture, form | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Musical Forms | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Active and Passive Listening | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | The Formal Study of Music - Ethnomusicology and Musicology | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Understanding Music Transnationalism | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Using Technology to Research Artists and Genres | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Listening - Migrations from Europe to North America | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Listening - Migrations from Asia and North American Indigenous Cultures | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Listening - Forced Migrations from Africa to the New World | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Listening - Politics, Protest Songs, and Social Commentary; from the American Revolution to the Streets of Minneapolis | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Listening - King Cotton and the Black Belt | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Llistening - Work songs, Prison songs, field hollers, ring shouts, Gullah culture | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Listening - Spirituals, Gospel | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/LIstening - Blues | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Listening - Ragtime, Early Jazz, Swing, Bebop, Hardbop, Modern Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Avant Garde | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Listening - Cajun, Zydeco | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Listening - US Beat, R&B, Funk, Neo Soul, Hip Hop | Glenn Schaft | |
| Required | Case Studies/Listening - Cuba & the Caribbean | Glenn Schaft |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
Log in to view more
Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Week 1 What Is Music? |
Sounds and Intent Music In Culture Music as Process Transmission & Preservation Sound in the Time Space Dimensions Six characteristics of musical sound Textures Pitch, Melody, Harmony, Rhythm Musical Form Instrument Classification |
|
| 8/31 | Week 2 Active & Passive Listening Musicology & Ethnomusicology |
||
| 9/7 | Week 3 Mon Sep 7, Labor Day, YSU Observed Holiday: no classes Understanding Musical Transnationalism Using technology to research artists and genres |
Media Migrations Modernization - Technology Popular Music - World Music |
|
| 9/14 | Week 4 Case Study - Migrations from Europe to North America |
Early American, Colonial Period, Civil War Classics c. American String Musics i. Country and Western ii. Bluegrass iii. Gangstagrass 20th c. Avant Garde |
|
| 9/21 | Week 5 Case Study - Migrations from Asia and North American Indigenous Cultures |
Ojibwa, Ojibwe, or Chippewa (the Anglicized name) Powwows-fusion of traditional and contemporary elements Inuit Songs, Canada |
|
| 9/28 | Week 6 Case Study-Forced Migrations from Africa to North America |
Traditional and Popular Musics of Africa | |
| 10/5 | Week 7 Case Study - Politics, Protest Songs, and Social Commentary |
from the American Revolution to the Streets of Minneapolis | |
| 10/12 | Week 8 Mon Oct 12 - Mid term review Wed, Oct 14, Cliff College Creative Arts Open House: no class Fri, Oct 16, Mid Term Exam |
||
| 10/19 | Week 9 Case Study - King Cotton and the Black Belt |
Work songs, Prison songs, field hollers, ring shouts, Gullah culture | |
| 10/26 | Week 10 | Spirituals, Gospel US Beat, R&B, Funk, Neo Soul, Hip Hop |
|
| 11/2 | Week 11 | Blues | |
| 11/9 | Week 12 Wed, Nov 11, Veterans Day, YSU Observed Holiday: no classes |
Ragtime, Early Jazz, Swing, Bebop, Hardbop, Modern Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Avant Garde | |
| 11/16 | Week 13 New Orleans, Cajun Culture |
Cajun, Zydeco | |
| 11/23 | Week 14 Case Studies - Spanish Influences Nov 25-Fri, Nov 27- Thanksgiving Break, YSU Observed Holiday: no classes |
Texas & American Southwest, Tejano, TexMex | |
| 11/30 | Week 15 contd... Fri, 12/4, Final Exam Review |
||
| 12/7 | Finals Week Wed Dec. 9, Final Exam, 8-10AM |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.