Photo Collage from Jaisun Photography.

This blog provides some class notes for EL4234 ("Poetry in Music") at SYU, running from August 31st to December 18th, 2009.

Class Description:

The purpose of this course is to facilitate you in the listening, reading and discussion of contemporary English songs. Poetry theory, music theory and rhetorical theory will be incorporated while listening to and contemplating a number of different music genres, ranging from Hymns to Hip-Hop music.

In this class we will basically enjoy a cursory overview of contemporary music and in the process develop your skills to converse about music in general, but in particular to read, interpret, and discuss song lyrics (which are the poetry in music).

Our main textbook is:

Larsen, M. A. (Ed.), Borg, P. W., Poultney, D., Unsworth, A., and Washburn, R. 2003. Crossroads in Music: Traditions & Connections. Schirmer-Cengage Learning.

We will also supplement the course with other sources, including online links, and music that more accurately match our goals.