Orpheus: The Meaning of Music

Catalog description

The Orpheus myth has held a certain fascination for thousands of year. In this course we will be seeking to investigate some of the reasons for why it has been so compelling. In part, this will lead us to a relatively conventional exploration, predominantly in the first half of the semester, of how different Western composers have taken up the Orpheus theme and molded it to the requirements of their particular historical contexts. In the second half of semester, however, we will branch out into how the myth has acted as an instigation for broader global issues, particularly concerning race, expression, and the legacies of colonialism. As a result, the course is as much about how questions that have arisen in relationship to music can spread out into other fields, as it is purely about Orpheus and music per se. This intention to broaden out is exemplified, particularly in the second part of semester by the fact that our investigations will become more unapologetically interdisciplinary,