Peabody Conservatory

Computer Music Department

EC 350.840

The History of Electroacoustic Music

Instructor: McGregor Boyle

            The History of Electroacoustic Music is an overview of the development of electroacoustic music in the twentieth century. Intended for the student with little or no knowledge of this field's history and literature, the course is designed to provide a general familiarity with the major trends and developments as well as to allow for more detailed study on topics of particular interest to the class.

Paper

            Each student will write a paper on an instructor-approved topic of their choice. The topics may be selected by the student, but must focus on a single aspect of Electronic Music history and/or literature. A typical topic would the work of a particular composer or group of composers. Other types of topics are also possible, with the permission of the instructor.  Each student will submit a written proposal outlining his paper topic by March 25. This proposal must include a partial bibliography and discography.

            The paper should be roughly ten pages (double spaced) in length, and must conform to the Chicago Manual of Style format. The paper will be turned in twice, once for corrections and suggestions and the second and final time for a grade. The draft versions (for corrections) will be due on April 15, with the final graded version due the day of the final exam.

            During the final weeks of the class each student will make a short presentation on the topic of their paper. This will allow members of the class to benefit from each other’s research efforts. The presentations should be well organized and informative, and should include written handouts and listening examples. Of particular importance are bibliography and discography, which should be included with each presentation.

Reading and Listening

            There will be no standard textbook for the course.  For each unit a Listening and Reading list will be posted. Each student is expected to complete the reading and listening assignment during the week.

Web Resources

            As a class group project we will assemble a website of useful web resources for the study of the history of electroacoustic Music. Every week each student will be assigned a topic to research on the web. They will then share the best of these with the class. A page with all of the links will be assembled on the department’s web server.

Exams

            There will be two exams, a midterm and a final.

Grades

            Grades will be determined by the paper/presentation. (30 points) and the two exams (30 points each). The remaining 10 points will be determined by attendance and participation in class discussions.