Beginning in the Fall of 2004, the Butler School of Music introduced
a program of studies in religious music, designed initially for graduate students
of Choral Conducting or Organ Performance. A broad range of subjects will be offered,
all designed to enable the musician to be equipped to take charge of the music of
a congregation and other religious organizations. Extensive surveys of the vast
choral and organ literatures will be complemented with practical instruction in
the preparation and performance of representative works. The histories of religious
music and liturgical practices will be offered along with the study of service-building
and administration, choir-training and service-playing. Opportunities for the development
and expansion of such skills will be given to colleagues in the larger community,
taking the forms of workshops and seminars. The following courses offered for the
Sacred Music Emphases are described below.
MUS 286 Music in Worship. Special Topics in Performance. Service-planning and Service-playing.
An introduction to the art and skill of designing music to enhance, project and
inspire services of worship and other public occasions of a religious nature. The
chief goal is to learn how services are constructed and how musical numbers help
interpret and give liveliness to these events. A working knowledge of repertory,
vocal, choral, and instrumental, will evolve from the study of specific musical
works, creating and balancing content and style, whether in conducting, playing,
arranging or composing, or in other ways, will be practiced.
MUSIC 180K Problems in Performance Practice. Improvisation (non-Jazz).
An introduction to the art of improvising at the keyboard, the purpose of which
is to prepare the musician for self-development as an improvisor. A beginning with
the treatment of scales in the traditional modes is followed by an analysis of the
phrase and phrase-building . Simple and complex song forms lead to rondo and sonata-allegro
forms. The development of hymn-improvisations follows. The course is designed to
give the performer ease with improvisation techniques and thus confidence in improvising
in performance.
MUSIC 180K Problems in Performance Practice. Improvisation (non-Jazz).
May be repeated for credit as a continuation of the developing of the art of improvising
at the keyboard. Based upon previous study and experience as an improvisor, this
course aims to prepare the musician for self-development as an improvisor. Expanded
treatments of scales in the traditional modes are followed by more elaborate phrase-building
techniques. Song forms grow into rondo and, ultimately, sonata-allegro forms. The
development of hymn-improvisations and hymn-preludes follows. The course is designed
to give the performer ease with improvisation techniques and attendant confidence
in improvising in performance.
MUSIC 386J Topics in the History of Sacred Music: Topic 1: Sacred Choral Repertory.
A practical, "hands-on" introduction to a significant body of choral works, from
the thirteenth century to the present age, composed especially for religious occasions
and venues. This course is designed to enable the student to study, analyze, and
prepare certain chosen pieces for rehearsal and performance. Representing one of
the oldest and most venerable genres of music, choral numbers that emerge from historical
and stylistic turning points will be emphasized. The student will be led to discover
the historic evolution and stylistic characteristics of the major forms of choral
music.
MUSIC 387 Topics in the History of Sacred Music. Topic 2. Sacred Organ Repertory.
A practical, "hands-on" introduction to a significant body of organ and
keyboard works, from the sixteenth century to the present day, composed especially
for religious occasions and venues. This course is designed to enable the student
to study, analyze, and prepare certain chosen pieces for practice and performance.
Representing a vast range of literature, works for the organ that emerge from historical
and stylistic turning points will be emphasized. The student will be led to discover
the historic and liturgical evolution and stylistic characteristics of the major
forms of organ music.