Approved by Faculty Senate
UNIVERSITY STUDIES COURSE APPROVAL:
Department or Program: MUSIC
Course Number: 243
Number of
credits: 1
Course Title: CONCERT CHOIR
Catalog Description: A choral ensemble providing singers the opportunity to rehearse,
learn about, and perform music ranging from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century. Also, the
ensemble provides the student the opportunity to further develop his/her musical skills
and knowledge through various related listening, viewing and performing activities.
Membership is open to all qualified students of the university. Prerequisite: audition.
This course is eligible for University Studies Course credit under B. Arts and Science
Core, 4. Fine and Performing Arts. The student must enroll and pass Women's Chorus with,
at least, a B letter grade to receive one credit towards fulfilling the University Studies
Course requirement for Fine and Performing Arts.
This is an existing course that has previously been approved by A2C2 X
Department Contact person for this course:
HARRY MECHELL
Hmechell@winona.edu
University Studies Course Proposal
For Mus 243: Concert Choir
The following objectives address:
A. Explore the language, skills and materials of an artistic discipline:
Objectives
By being a participant in this class, the student will be able to identify and analyze
representative musical forms, styles, performance practices, performance media, as well as
representative composers and compositions of western music.
The student will be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of vocal techniques and
acoustics, including tone production and intonation, articulation and diction, and voice
placement.
The student will be able to demonstrate solo and ensemble performance competence with the
voice to assure musical accuracy and expressiveness using music examples from diverse
styles and periods.
The student will demonstrate advanced performance competence, using their voice as a
performing medium in a small or large ensemble.
The student will be able to identify and reproduce intervals, scales and chord structures
with the voice.
The student will be able to demonstrate advanced solo and ensemble performance competence
with the voice.
The student will be able to interpret music scores and understand range, tessitura and
phrasing.
B. Use the methods of an arts practitioner to actively engage in
creative processes or interpretative performances:
Objectives
By being a participant in this class, the student will be able to identify and analyze
representative musical forms, styles, performance practices, performance media, as well as
representative composers and compositions of western music.
The student will be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of vocal techniques and
acoustics, including tone production and intonation, articulation and diction, and voice
placement.
The student will be able to demonstrate solo and ensemble performance competence with the
voice to assure musical accuracy and expressiveness using music examples from diverse
styles and periods.
The student will demonstrate advanced performance competence, using their voice as a
performing medium in a small or large ensemble.
The student will be able to identify and reproduce intervals, scales and chord structures
with the voice.
The student will be able to demonstrate advanced solo and ensemble performance competence
with the voice.
The student will be able to interpret music scores and understand range, tessitura and
phrasing.
C. Understand the cultural and gender contexts of artistic expression:
The student will be able to participate in activities relating to the musical traditions
and characteristics of diverse and representative world cultures.
Concerts often include music of many countries, sung in various languages, such as
Italian, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and African.
Students participate in exchange concerts_most recently, the Taiwanese choir from Tamkung
University rehearsed and sang with our WSU Madrigal Singers.
The students will be able to demonstrate solo and ensemble performance competence with the
voice to assure musical accuracy and expressiveness using music examples from diverse
styles and time periods.
The students consistently sing in foreign languages, and learn important characteristics
of diverse musical styles when rehearsing and performing.
The students will be able to participate in activities related to rehearsing and
performing music compositions by women composers, drawing upon the literature of the
Middle Ages to the present.
Every semester, the choirs participate in women composer recitals during Women History
Month.
D. Engage in reflective analysis of their own art work or interpretive
performances and respond to the works of others:
The student will listen and view relevant recordings and videotapes of their own
rehearsals and performances, and discuss their reactions in group discussions.
The students will listen and view videos of other live performances of collegiate and
school choirs and instrumental ensembles in festivals, workshops and tours, and discuss
their reactions in group discussions.
The students will attend other arts-related performances and discuss their reactions in
group discussions.
Course requirements and learning activities designed to meet the course outcomes:
Rehearsals and performances of representative choral music, approximately 6-8 concerts per
year. Variety of programs: periods of music, styles, traditions, genres, and forces. A, B,
and C
Concerts to take place on and off campus. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is
required. A, B and C
Written quizzes will be taken during the semester to assess student's development. D
Listening assignments with follow-up group discussions. D
Syllabus
Course 243 Concert Choir
Professor: Dr. Harry A. Mechell
Room 145, Performing Arts Center
457-5251
hmechell@winona.edu
Description: This choral ensemble provides students the opportunity to rehearse and
perform choral music appropriate for mixed voices. The repertoire will include literature
from all music periods and styles.
This course is eligible for University Studies Course credit under
B. Arts and Science Core,
4. Fine and Performing Arts.
The student must enroll and pass Concert Choir with, at least, a B letter grade to receive
one credit towards fulfilling the University Studies Course requirement for Fine and
Performing Arts.
Course outcomes: The following are competencies to be attained. This course will include
requirements and learning activities that promote students' abilities to_
A Explore the language, skills, and materials of an artistic
discipline; B. Use the methods of an arts practitioner to actively
engage in creative processes or interpretative performances;
C Understand the cultural and gender contexts of artistic
expression;
E. Engage in reflective analysis of their own artwork or interpretative
performances and respond to the works of others.
Outcomes:
_.identify and analyze representative musical forms, styles, performance practices,
performance media, as well as representative composers and compositions of western music,
and identify musical characteristics of diverse and representative world cultures. ABC
_demonstrate the basic knowledge of vocal techniques and acoustics, including tone
production and intonation, articulation and diction, and voice placement. ABC
...demonstrate advanced solo and ensemble performance competence with the voice to assure
musical accuracy and expressiveness using music examples from diverse styles and time
periods. ABD
...demonstrate advanced performance competence on one's major vocal performing medium in a
small or large ensemble. ABD
...identify and reproduce intervals, scales and chord structures with the voice. AB
...demonstrate advanced vocal solo and ensemble performance competence with the voice. ABD
...interpret vocal music scores and understand range, tessitura and phrasing. ABD
Outline of topics:
Form, style, and performance practices.
Composers of western music.
Musical traditions of diverse and representative world cultures.
Proper vocal production techniques.
Tone, articulation, diction, focus.
Vocal performing in small and large ensembles.
Music theory.
Choral music score reading.
Projects and assignments:
Rehearsals and performances of representative choral music, up to approximately 4 concerts
per year.
To include Women Composers concert participation, Schubertiade concert participation,
Renaissance Madrigal Banquet participation, New Music festival participation, programs
focusing on cultural diversity participation and music concerts focusing on historical
musical significance,A,B, C, and D.
Variety of programs- periods, styles, traditions, genres, forces, a cappella, and
accompanied. ABCD
Concerts to take place on and off campus. Attendance at all rehearsals is required.
Written quizzes will be taken during the semester to assess students' development. D
Listening assignments with follow-up group discussion. D
Text: sight-reading texts
Materials: choral music octavos and collections, folder, piano, CD's, videos, tapes,
records, audio equipment, camcorder
Evaluation Criteria:
pre concert evaluations
40 % of grade
sing music in quartets
written music exam
rehearsal and concert attendance 60 % of grade
2000-2001 Concert SCHEDULE
Fall
10/17/2000 Pastime with good company, RH, 7:30 PM, Concert Choir and
Madrigal Singers
10/27 Knut Nystedt Festival: Nystedt's Magnificat for the New Millenium,
Central Lutheran Church, 7:30 PM
rehearse: 10/19 & 10/26 6 PM, Concert Choir
11/19 Winona Oratorio Chorus: Haydn's The Creation, Central Lutheran
Church, 3 PM
dress rehearsal: 11/18 9 am
12/2 Messiah Sing-In, Somsen Auditorium, 4 and 7 PM, Concert Choir
Spring
1/30/2001 Schubertiade, RH, 7:30 PM, Concert
Choir and Madrigal Singers
2/23-24 Renaissance Madrigal Banquet, Lourdes Hall, WSU, 6PM
Rehearse: 2/11, 2/18 all day.
2/19, 2/20, 2/22 6 PM
Concert Choir and
Madrigal Singers
March Women Composers' Program, RH, 7:30 PM, Concert Choir and Madrigal
Singers
March 31 Winona Oratorio Chorus: Rutter Requiem and Te Deum, The Chapel
of Saint Mary of the Angels, Winona, 7:30 PM
4/17 Spring Choral Concert, RH, 7:30 PM, Concert Choir and Madrigal
Singers
Summer
6/18-6/30 Mozart Requiem in Innsbruck, Austria.
Further touring in Western Europe.