History of Electronic Music

Catalog description

This course explores the interconnected history of electronic music and technology. From the early twentieth century to the present, composers have harnessed advancements in analog electronics, sound recording, telecommunications, digital computing, and artificial intelligence to push creative boundaries and develop innovative modes of musical expression. Electronic instruments, synthesizers, samplers, personal computers, and digital audio workstations have become indispensable tools for artistic creation. This course examines electronic music within a multicultural framework, exploring its historical roots, creative processes, aesthetic experiences, and societal values. Students will actively engage with electronic music through guided listening activities, analytical exercises, listening journal entries, and model composition projects. They will develop the ability to recognize aesthetic and technical elements within specific genres, and learn to interpret, evaluate, and contextualize electronic music compositions within the broader lineage of electronic music history. Success in this course does not require an extensive background in music; rather, it demands an open mind, an attentive ear, and the ability to describe one's listening experience.