Music Humanities

Part of the Core Curriculum since 1947, HUMA UN1123 Masterpieces of Western Music , or “Music Humanities,’’ aims to instill in students a basic comprehension of the many forms of the Western musical imagination. Its specific goals are to awaken and encourage in students an appreciation of music in the Western world, to help them learn to respond intelligently to a variety of musical idioms, and to engage them in the issues of various debates about the character and purposes of music that have occupied composers and musical thinkers since ancient times. The course attempts to involve students actively in the process of critical listening, both in the classroom and in concerts that the students attend and write about. The extraordinary richness of musical life in New York is thus an integral part of the course. Although not a history of Western music, the course is taught in a chronological format and includes masterpieces by Josquin des Prez, Monteverdi, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Verdi, Wagner, Schoenberg, and Stravinsky, among others. Since 2004, the works of jazz composers and improvisers, such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Charlie Parker, have been added to the list of masterpieces to be studied in this class. Music Humanities digital resources can be viewed at http://www.columbia.edu/itc/music.

Registration Procedure

All information concerning registration in HUMA UN1123 Masterpieces of Western Music is included in the registration materials sent to students. It is the expectation of the College that all students complete Music Humanities by the end of their third year.

All Core Curriculum courses, including Music Humanities, must be taken for a letter grade. Students may not drop or withdraw from Music Humanities after the Core drop deadline (which is also the end of the Change-of-Program period). For more information, see Registration—Dropping Core Courses.

Courses of Instruction

Exemption from Music Humanities

Although all Columbia students are expected to take Music Humanities, there are some students who enter with exceptional musical backgrounds that may qualify them for exemption. Exemption from Music Humanities may be obtained by passing an Exemption Exam. In the case of transfer students, exemption may also be obtained by filing a course substitution request.

Exemption Exam

The Exemption Exam is offered on the first Friday of the fall semester by the Music Department (621 Dodge Hall). Students who matriculate in the spring semester should take the exam in the following fall term. Students may take the exam only once during their first year at Columbia. If they do not pass the exam, they must enroll in a section of Music Humanities.

Course Substitution

In addition to the Exemption Exam, students with approved transfer credit have the option of requesting exemption on the basis of a similar music course passed with a grade of B or higher at another college or university. This exemption must be requested during the student’s first semester at Columbia. Petitions submitted in subsequent semesters will not be considered by the Center for the Core Curriculum.