Courses
In addition to music history and theory offered by the Jacobs School of Music, the Early Music Institute offers a wide selection of courses including Literature and Performance Practices of Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Music (3-course series); Continuo Readings and Performance; Playing and Singing from Original Notation; Bibliography; Research in Early Music (with changing topics); and Seminars. Please contact us if you would like further information regarding the Early Music Institute. The letter "P" identifies those courses that have prerequisites.
For Early Music Performance Study courses (lessons, masterclass, and recitals), please click here.
MUS F420 - Topics in Performance Study
MUS F501 - Accompaniment of Baroque Music
P: Successful completion of a graduate keyboard proficiency examination and consent of instructor. Introduction to the art of accompaniment of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century music. Repertoire is selected from a wide variety of chamber and larger works, both vocal and instrumental. Included in the study are recitative, embellishment, and improvisation.
MUS F502 - Topics in Basso Continuo
P: Successful completion of a graduate keyboard proficiency examination and consent of the instructor. Primary sources regarding basso continuo performance practices are examined. Emphasis is on performance from figured and unfigured bass.
MUS F503 - Advanced Topics in Basso Continuo
P: Successful completion of a graduate keyboard proficiency examination and consent of instructor. National styles of basso continuo practice from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Readings and application to compositions of selected composers.
MUS F520 - Topics in Performance Study
MUS M415 - Interpreting Unaccompanied Bach
Study and performance of the unaccompanied works by J.S. Bach for violin, cello, and flute. Consideration of structural musical elements based on autograph manuscripts. Open to all instrumentalists other than keyboard players.
MUS M435 - Performance Practice Before 1750
Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque repertory studied in light of historical performance, including historical performance procedures, instruments, tuning, rhythm, notations, and other theoretical areas of importance for performance. Some consideration is given to the recreation of historical music employing modern instruments.
MUS M458 - Topics in Early Music
Variable topics in repertory and performance practice of early music. May be taken more than once.
MUS M515 - Interpreting Unaccompanied Bach
Study and performance of the unaccompanied works by J.S. Bach for violin, cello, and flute. Consideration of structural musical elements based on autograph manuscripts. Open to all instrumentalists other than keyboard players.
MUS M516 - Advanced Topics in Early Music
MUS M517 - Literature and Performance Practice I
The basic literature of the Medieval period with performance-oriented analysis, survey of original sources, and study of performance-related theoretical works.
MUS M518 - Literature and Performance Practice II
The basic literature of the Renaissance period with performance-oriented analysis, survey of original sources, and study of performance-related theoretical works.
MUS M519 - Literature and Performance Practice III
The basic literature of the Baroque period with performance-oriented analysis, survey of original sources, and study of performance-related theoretical works.
MUS M520 - Literature and Performance Practice IV
The basic literature of the Classical period with performance-oriented analysis, survey of original sources, and study of performance-related theoretical works.
MUS M521 - Literature and Performance Practice V
The basic literature of the Romantic period with performance-oriented analysis, survey of original sources, and study of performance-related theoretical works.
MUS M558 - Topics in Early Music
Variable topics in repertory and performance practices of early music. May be taken more than once.
MUS M635 - Performance Practice Before 1750
Styles of solo and ensemble performance of instrumental and vocal music from the Middle Ages through the Baroque period: medium, dynamics, tempo, ornamentation and improvisation, temperament. Editing and performing of works for old and modern instruments.
MUS M636 - Performance Practice Since 1750
Styles of solo and ensemble performance of instrumental and vocal music from the Classic period to modern times. Changing aspects of medium, tempo, dynamics, phrasing, etc., applied to problems of musical interpretation.
MUS X060 - Early Music Ensembles
Concentus, a mixed instrumental/vocal ensemble constituted differently to fit the repertoire of each concert, is required of all early music majors.
