Professor Alexander Pichugin

German Music

German-speaking countries produced some of the most renowned composers and music performers of the world. Classical works by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Brahms, Schumann, and Wagner are some of the
most performed in the world. German popular music of the 20th and 21st Century with modern movements such as New German Wave, Metal/Rock, Punk, Pop Rock and Hip Hop is extremely popular. German electronic music has
gained global influence. Germany is the largest music market in Europe, and third largest in the world. It is very well known for both its many renowned opera houses and many large rock music festivals.

This course invites students to explore the world of German music and its connections to other forms of cultural production, such as literature and cinema. By studying these connections, students will gain insights into ideas,
trends and discourses that have shaped contemporary German-language culture. The course offers a wide range of materials, including non-fiction and literary prose texts, documentary and feature films, audio productions, as well as
selections from newspapers and magazines related to music. The different texts (in a wide sense of the word) are approached as both cultural artifacts and linguistic documents, i.e., their analysis includes the study of vocabulary
and elements of grammar and style. Students will practice various reading techniques (e.g. close reading, reading for plot, etc.) and learn to define and apply essential literary and musical terminology.

The course is conducted in German. All course materials, discussions, and readings are in GermanFulfills SAS core requirements AHp, WCd.

300-level German-language courses open to students who have either successfully completed German 232 or will be simultaneously enrolled in either German 231 or 232. May be repeated for credit.