- Music and the Mass Ordinary - Majors

Catalog description

The Mass Ordinary is the cornerstone of the eucharistic ritual of the Roman Catholic Church. This course traces the development of western art music through landmark musical settings of the Mass Ordinary. Composers studied include Josquin des Prez, Palestrina, J. S. Bach, F. J. Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein, and others. Students will learn about historical events, technological advancements, and socio-political trends that led to changes in ritualistic practices and the music that accompanied them. For music majors, this course is designed to help solidify and contextualize foundational knowledge of western musical history and terminology. For non-music majors, this course will serve as an introductory survey of western sacred musical literature, from the earliest forms of notation and chant through landmark compositions from each of the major musical eras.