Courses
General Course Requirements
- Concentration in Organ (48 credits)
- Concentration in Choral Conducting (48 credits)
- Concentration in Voice (48 credits)
Course Descriptions
Eucharist: Theology and Celebration
The Church makes the Eucharist and the Eucharist makes the Church. A biblical, historical, systematic, and liturgical treatment of the eucharistic liturgy with a special emphasis on pastoral considerations. Two brief reports and a final examination are required.
Liturgical Prayer
A study of the theology and practice of liturgical prayer in the Christian tradition past and present.
Liturgical Year
The theology of Christian festive celebrations, the historical development of the festive cycles and their meaning for Christian worship today.
Liturgical Theology
Examines some theories of liturgical theology, some theologies of worship, and some theological themes in liturgical texts and practice.
MSM Colloquium
Supervised Placement
Gregorian Chant
Vocal Sacred Music I is devoted primarily to Gregorian Chant, with some study toward the end of the semester of medieval polyphonic works based on chant. The course will cover matters of liturgy, performance practice, musical forms, notation, and sources. The course is open to upper-class music majors and graduate students in the Master of Sacred Music Program.
Polyphony
Sacred Music II is devoted to Renaissance polyphony (ca. 1400-1600). The course will cover matters of liturgy, performance practice, musical forms, notation, sources, and major composers. The course is open to upper-class music majors and graduate students in the Medieval Institute and Master of Sacred Music program.
Cantatas, Passions, and Oratorios of Bach and Handel
Sacred Music III is devoted to the Baroque era, ca. 1600-1750, and will include discussion of issues related to church history, liturgy, and performance practice. The course is open to upper-class music majors and graduate students in the Master of Sacred Music program.
Christian Repertories and Worship Traditions in the USA
Survey and analysis of Christian sacred music of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including both sacred art music and repertoires composed for the congregation. Official denominational directives for, scholarly assessments of, and pastoral evaluations concerning these repertoires.
Organ Liturature I
This course will examine topics related to the history of the organ and its music. Nearly every European country developed a style of organ-building that influenced the types of music composed for the instrument. Readings will focus on the history and development of the organ and upon composers who wrote music for those important types. Bibliography, performance practice, liturgical considerations where appropriate, and editions/source materials will also be part of the discussions.
Organ Liturature II
See description for MUS 60401.
Organ for MSM
Individual instruction for graduate students.
Voice
Individual instruction for graduate students.
Piano
Individual instruction for students.
Conducting I
Basic techniques of instrumental and choral conducting. For music majors only or with special permission of the instructor.
Conducting II
Basic techniques of instrumental and choral conducting. For music majors only or special permission of the chairman of the department.
Graduate Recital
Formal registration for annual project in performance.