Sound, Music, Noise: Historical Perspectives 2025/26 Fall

The materials in the music modules of the course are intended to supplement the texts we will be discussing in class. The selection and presentation are neither systematic, nor are they intended to satisfy the standards of musicology. I have made every effort not to assume any previous musical training, and chosen the musical excerpts with the thought of creating a series of linked impressions, rather than providing any systematic account of compositional developments. The selection also presupposes that you do not want to spend more than an hour with each section, which is why I have been so philistine about taking pieces of music outside the context of the total work.

If you do not know how to read musical notes but are willing to devote a half hour or so to understanding music as a semiotic system, a very efficient way to get started would be at musictheory.net. See if you can get as far as generic and specific intervals under "Lessons." Those with some musical knowledge might spend a few minutes toying with the interval ear trainer under "Trainers."

We plan to visit the Vienna Museum of Science and Technology, which not only holds an excellent collection of historical musical instruments, but is also hosting an exhibition for the centenary of radio. I have not fixed a date yet, but for convenience I would propose going after class on Friday afternoon, November 7. Once students have finalized their schedules, we can decide on feasibility and change to another Friday or Saturday as necessary.