In this class, students study some of the premier music ensembles of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries to understand their approach to musicianship, creativity in music, and interpretation and arrangement of new and old repertoire as well as strive to understand the larger cultural and artistic implications of these groups. From a reinvigoration of the early music scene with groups like Les Arts Florissants or the Jupiter Ensemble to contemporary ensembles like Imani Winds, the Miro and Dover string quartets, Eighth Blackbird, etc., an explosion in musical styles, genres, and streams of influence has profoundly altered the musical landscape of the twentieth-first century.
We’ll discover, through close readings of work by transformative ensembles, how to engage with contemporary trends in music. Students in the class will form an ensemble, and all students will be expected to provide weekly arrangements of a variety of music of different genres and styles for the group.
Classes designated Honors are enrichment options suitable for students who participate in or aspire to participate in Levine’s merit programs. Non-merit students are welcome to register for the class.
Students who have not taken a music theory class at Levine should take an online placement test prior to registering for the class.
For more information, please contact Evan Meier, Theory Department Chair, at (202) 686-8000 x1598 or EMeier@levinemusic.org.