MUSL 294: SELECTED TOPICS IN MUSIC HISTORY
Brahms and the Anxiety of Influence (FALL 2003)
Tues 6:10-9:00 p.m., Blair Rm 2135

A study of Brahms' large-scale orchestral works and selected other literature from the perspective of "influence." Musical relationships to Couperin, JS Bach and sons, Beethoven, Wagner, Schoenberg and others. Topics include Brahms' self-image; Brahms as conductor, performer and editor; stylistic fingerprints; popular and folk elements; Brahms and later composers; his relationship to Clara; the Wagner-Brahms debate. PREREQ MusL 244 or permission of instructor.

Professor Cyrus: Blair Rm 2104; 322-7693 or msg 322-7651; home phone 662-8514
E-mail address: cynthia.cyrus@vanderbilt.edu
Office Hours Mon 11-12, Thurs 8:30-9:30 and by appointment

Required Materials
Dover Scores: Johannes Brahms, Complete Concerti in Full Score. Dover Publications. 1981. ISBN 048624170X (paperback). (Piano Concertos 1 & 2, Violin Concerto, Op. 77, Double Concerto for Violin & Cello, Op. 102)
Dover Scores: Johannes Brahms, Complete Symphonies. Dover Publications. 1975. ISBN 0486230538 (paperback). (Symphony #1 in C Minor, Op. 68; #2 in D Major, Op. 73; #3 in F Major, Op. 90; & #4 in E Minor, Op. 98)
Frisch, Walter (ed.), Brahms and His World Princeton: Princeton Univ Press, 1990, ISBN 0-691-02713-7
Classpak

Grades
50% Presentations and discussions

10% sample score analysis
30% 7-10 page conference-paper
10% Final project (e.g. Dear Clara letter)

Academic honesty: For this course, you are bound by the terms of the Vanderbilt Honor System. Any breach of academic honesty, including cheating, plagiarism, or failing to report a known or suspected violation of the Code will be reported to the Honor Council.

Disabilities: If you have a disability that will require special arrangements, please let me know during the first week of class.

Brahms and the Anxiety of Influence: COURSE OUTLINE

1. The Critics' view (9/2)
Robert Schumann and the discovery of Brahms; Hanslick and the act of assessment; the role of the 19th-century critic; measures of success; Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 (1880)

>> read in Brahms Notebooks: Treasure-Chest of the Young Kreisler
>> prepare a "Brahms' self-image" report
>> (opt): read Neighbor, Brahms and Schumann: Two Opus Nines and Beyond
>> (opt): Botstein Time and Memory IN Brahms and His World

2. Brahms' self-image (9/9)
"Johannes Kreisler, junior" (NB of the Young Kreisler); the League of Asses Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann op.9 ("Brahms" and "Kreisler") (1854); Haydn Variations op. 56 (1873)

>> read Comini, Changing Image of Beethoven, 305-314
>> study Brahms Symphony 1
>> choose item for score analysis (in consultation w/Dr C)
>> (opt) read Schubring, 5 Early Works by Brahms IN Brahms and His World

3. The Mythic Beethoven (9/16)
The Anxiety of Influence; Brahms and the Mythic Beethoven; Brahms' Symphony
no.1 (1876)

>> (opt) read Rosen, Influence: Plagiarism and Inspiration
>> study Brahms PC 1
>> prepare a sample score analysis

4. Genre and Meaning (9/23)
Sonata for 2 pianos...symphony...Piano Concerto No. 1 in d minor (1854-9)

>> read Geiringer: Reader and Collector
>> read Musgrave: Brahms the Progressive
>> study String Quintet Op. 88

5. Brahms and the Past 1 (9/30)
Brahms as Musicologist: Editorial endeavors and the spillover of style; Handel Variations (1861); cadenzas (Mozart D minor and Beethoven's Emperor concerto); neo-Baroque elements in String Quintet in F (op.88)

>> prep conductor/performer presentation
>> Read Knapp, Finale of 4th Symphony
>> Study Brahms Symphony 4

6. Brahms and the Past 2 (10/7)
Brahms: Conductor and Performer; Symphony no.4 in E minor (1885)

>> Study Brahms, PC 2
>> Choose conference paper topic

7. Brahms and the Future 1 (10/14)
"monumentalized chamber music"? (Paul Bekker 1918); Piano Concerto no. 2 in
B-flat (1881)

>> read Schoenberg, Brahms the Progressive
>> read Musgrave, Schoenberg's Brahms
>> Study Brahms Symphony 2

8. Brahms and the Future 2 (Thurs 10/23)
Brahms the Progressive (Schoenberg 1950); Symphony no.2 in D (1877)

>> prepare report on Brahms and [your choice of later composer]
[see e.g. list of works "Dedicated to JB IN Brahms and His World]
>> Read Zemlinsky and Weigl, Brahms and the Newer Generation IN Brahms and His World
>> read Frisch, Brahms Fog IN Brahms and His World
>> (opt) read Bozartha nd Brady, "The Pianos of JB" IN Brahms and His World

9. Brahms and the Future 3 (10/28)
The Brahms Fog: Brahms and later composers (TBA)

>> read Brown, Brahms' 3rd Symphony and the German School
>> (opt) read Brodbeck IN Brahms and His World
>> study Brahms Symphony 3

10. Brahms and the Present (11/4)
New German School--Wagner and Liszt; Symphony no.3 in F (1883)

>> prepare draft of conference paper
>> Colloquium by Christina Bashford Monday, 11/10 at noon in TRH
The Britishness of the Nineteenth-century Programme Note

11. Guest lecture by Christina Bashford (11/11)

>> prepare Clara reports
>> read Reich, "Clara Schumann and JB" IN Brahms and His World

12. Clara (11/18)

>> read Schwarz, Joachim and the Violin Concerto
>> study Brahms VC or the Clarinet Quintet
>> (opt) read Ostwald, JB, Solitary Artist IN Brahms and His World

13. Virtuosity and Friendship (12/2)
Joachim and Brahms' Violin Concerto (Also, "Hymn to the Veneration of the great Joachim"); Richard Mühlfeld and the Clarinet Quintet

>> prepare a popular or folk element presentation
>> final draft of conference paper

14. Brahms and the Folk; Exoticism or mere enrichment? (12/9)
Deutsche Volkslieder and songs; Liebeslieder waltzes and the Ländler; deconstructing the highbrow vs. popular divide. Zigeunerlieder Op. 103 and the Gypsy as "other"; the Hungarian Dances; G minor Piano Quartet op.25