Week 1 August 24: Welcome, Introduction to Latin American Culture. Homework: -Read Hess textbook “Experiencing Latin American Music: An Introduction” and “Chapter 1” August 26: “America” the Continent; Popular, Classical and Traditional Music. Homework: -Read Hess textbook, Chapter 2. -Write a list of music you listen often to and classify them into Popular, Classical or Traditional music. Week 2 August 31: Instrumental heritage from the Western European cultures to the indigenous people of the “New World”, Review for Quiz 1. Homework: -Read Hess textbook, Chapter 4. -Answer the question: How do we perceive these instruments and their heritage today in the 21st Century? (Canvas) September 2: What is “Mestizaje”? and Why is it so important in Latin America? Quiz 1.
Week 3 September 7: No class – Labor Day September 9: Race, racial mixing and cultural consequences from the colonizers. Part I. Homework: -Prepare for the upcoming debate. Topic will be related to today’s class. Week 4 September 14: Race, racial mixing and cultural consequences from the colonizers. Part II Debate. September 16: Religion and its music. Part I. Quiz 2. Homework: -Read Hess textbook, Chapter 5. -Answer the following question: How is music used within religious and spiritual environments? Does it enhance or diminish the meaning of the worship? Week 5 September 21: Religion and its music, Part II. Homework: Read article “Carlos Chavez and the Myth of the Aztec Renaissance” by L. Saavedra. September 23: Mexico and its indigenous heritage. Homework: Read Hess textbook, Chapter 7. Week 6 September 28: Latin American Music in Politics Homework: Answer the following question and justify your answer: Is this music for listening or music for propaganda? September 30: Brazilian music in the Cold War. Homework: Write in a paper your answer to activity 7.6 of the textbook. "Research basic facts on “Garota de Ipanema” (Girl from Ipanema). Then, listen to at least three recordings of this famous song. Some important ones are those by Amy Winehouse, Frank Sinatra, and the saxophonist Stan Getz. Research each artist and compare his or her approach to that of the others, taking into account as many aspects of the music (pitch, rhythm, melody, texture, and the like) as you can." Week 7: October 5: Silvestre Revueltas: Activism and Artistry. Quiz 3. Homework: Listen to the tone poem “Sensemayá”, write one page with your opinion about the piece. What is the meaning of the music? October 7: Activism and Artistry. MIDTERM – PAPER DUE DATE. Week 8 October 12: NO CLASS – FALL BREAK!!! October 14: Film music in Latin America. Homework: -Read Hess textbook, Chapter 3. -Watch the Mexican film “Ay Jalisco, No Te Rajes!” (1941)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiUttaaugWg and write a reflection on Canvas about the meaning of the music in this type of film. Week 9 October 19: Traditional and social dance: Tango – Argentina Quiz 4. Homework: -Read Hess textbook, Chapter 6. October 21: LATIN AMERICAN SUMMIT Homework: - Read C. Hess textbook, Chapter 6, pp. 212 - 215. Week 10 October 26: Joropo, Merengue, Vals and Gaita – Venezuela. Homework: Discussion Board (Canvas) - Read the following chapter and be ready to discuss next class: Rondón, Cesar Miguél. “The book of Salsa”, Chapter 1, p. 1 – 10. October 28: Cuba and the history of Salsa Homework: Hess textbook, Chapter 5, pp.138 – 141; and Chapter 6, pp. 216 – 219. Week 11 November 2: Cumbia, Porro, Vallenato, Joropo llanero - Colombia Homework: Watch the following videos and compare the styles of music. Be ready to discuss next class. Bossa Nova:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckmcdcQ2mEg Choro:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXR7C1p1Sbk Maracatú:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Of1pKfcnjE Samba:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ztLCSwg6k0 November 4: Choro, Maracatu, Samba, Bossa Nova - Brasil Quiz 5. Week 12 November 9: Presentations I November 11: Presentations II Week 13 November 16: Latin American Classical Music I. Central America, Mexico and Ethnomusicology. Homework: Research about the following Venezuelan organizations and schools, and be prepared to discuss your findings next class: “El Sistema”, Orquesta Sinfónica de Venezuela, Escuela de Música Jose Angel Lamas, Colegio Emil Friedman. November 18: Latin American Classical Music II. Venezuela and the creation of their academic music school.
Week 14 November 23: Latin American Classical Music. Latin American composers: Alberto Ginastera, Aldemaro Romero, Arturo Marquez, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Teresa Carreño. Homework: -Read Hess textbook, Chapter 8. November 25: NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING BREAK!!! Week 15 November 30: Latin American Classical Music III. Legacy. Homework: -Read Hess textbook, Chapter 8. December 2: Semester review session and Latin Dance Party. Finals week! December 9th: FINAL EXAM TIME: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm., room TBA.