Summer Course: MUH 650 Entartete Musik Professor Phillip Silver May 11 – May 29, 2020
MUH 650 Entartete Musik with Professor Phillip Silver, May 11 – May 29, 2020
Entartete Musik (Degenerate Music) was the term applied by the Nazis to any musical work influenced by jazz, the avant-garde, or written by composers of Jewish descent. This music, at odds with the perverse racial and cultural policies of the regime, was banned from performance, the composers driven into exile and/or murdered in concentration camps. The exclusion from public life of many esteemed artists created what is in essence a lost generation, and may literally have altered the direction of twentieth century musical development. Seventy plus years after the defeat of Nazi Germany there is a worldwide effort underway to bring these artists back into the light and it is hoped that this course will contribute to that effort.
Course topics include a discussion of anti-Semitic thought in the writings of Richard Wagner and its influence upon Hitler, Nazi Racial Laws targeting Jewish musicians, Agencies established to enforce racist cultural policies, Musicological distortions, Music in Concentration Camps, Composers in Exile, performers and composers as collaborators, victims and survivors. Mediums will include lecture, listening and film presentations.
Week of May 11th: Assigned reading and consultation.
Week of May 18th: OnLine class meetings 9:15 – 12:00 and 1:15 to 4:00
Week of May 25th: Research and Writing of Paper, topic to be assigned.
For additional details contact Prof. Silver.