Historical Performance Program In this Department  Major in Performance  Minor in Performance Catalog  Main Page  General Information   College of Arts and Sciences   Conservatory of Music   Other Links  Course Syllabi  Registrar's Office David Breitman, Director David Boe, Professor of Organ David Breitman, Associate Professor of Historical Performance James Caldwell, Professor of Oboe Lisa Goode Crawford, Professor of Harpsichord Michael Lynn, Associate Professor of Recorder and Baroque Flute Kathie Lynn, Professor of Baroque Flute Michael Manderen, Lecturer in Lute Marilyn McDonald, Professor of Violin and Teacher of Baroque Violin Catharina Meints, Associate Professor of Viola da Gamba and Baroque Cello Alison Melville, Professor of Recorder Steven Plank, Professor of Musicology Haskell Thomson, Professor of Organ   back to top Major Study: Performance (Harpsichord, recorder, lute, Baroque flute, Early oboes, Baroque violin, Baroque cello, Viola da gamba, Baroque cello/viola da gamba) Course Requirements Recommended Course Distribution Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior 32 Principal Private Study 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Secondary Private Study1 - - 2 2 - - - - 9 Ensemble electives2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 HPRF 302 (Intro to Historical Performance) - - 3 - - - - - 6 Historical Performance electives - - - - - 3 - 3 12 MUTH 131, 132, 231, 232 (Music Theory) 3 3 3 3 - - - - 4 MUTH 101, 102, 201, 202 (Aural Skills) 1 1 1 1 - - - - 3 Upper-Division Music Theory electives - - - - 3 - - - 13 Music History electives3 4 3 - - - 3 3 - 19 Liberal Arts electives 3 3 - 3 3 - 4 3 5 Language electives4 - - - - 5 - - - 14 Free electives5 - - 2 1 - 3 4 4 124 16 15 16 15 16 15 16 15 Non-Course Requirements Private Study Committee Exams: First Major Committee - ˆ - - - - - - Second Major Committee - - - ˆ - - - - Performance Requirement: Junior Recital6, 7 - - - - (ˆ) (ˆ) - - Senior Recital6 - - - - - - (ˆ) (ˆ)   1 The requirement may be satisfied by two semesters of Secondary Private Study, or by two semesters of class instruction to be chosen from the following courses: APST 841 (Viola da Gamba Consort) APST 242, 244 (Baroque Violin for Violinists) APST 110, 111 (Piano Class) If a person meets this requirement earning two hours of credit, an additional two hours of music electives are added to the requirements for the major. No course may be used to meet both the Secondary Private Study requirement and the Ensemble elective requirement. 2 To be chosen from the following courses: APST 841 (Viola da Gamba Consort) APST 843 (Baroque Ensemble) APST 844 (Renaissance Recorder Ensemble) APST 240 (Continuo Realization at the Keyboard) APST 730 (Collegium Musicum) Harpsichordists must take APST 214 (Keyboard Skills I), APST 240 (Continuo Realization at the Keyboard) and four semesters of APST 340 (Continuo Accompanying). APST 214 and 240 may not be counted towards the ensemble requirement, but two of the four credits of APST 340 may be counted. Viola da gamba majors must take six semesters of APST 841 (Viola da Gamba Consort) and four semesters of APST 243 (Baroque Ensemble). Baroque cello/viola da gamba majors must take APST 841 (Viola da Gamba Consort) for six semesters; they must also take four semesters of APST 843 (Baroque Ensemble), in two of which they must play Baroque cello. Violinists, cellists, oboists, and flute players may substitute one semester of an ensemble in which they play the modern equivalent of their baroque instrument. 3 Three courses in Music History beyond MHST 101 are required, two of which must be at the 200 level. 4 May be waived by examination, in which case five hours must be added to liberal arts electives. 5 The number of free electives for viola da gamba majors and Baroque cello/viola da gamba majors is 12; for harpsichord majors it is eight. 6 Two performances on a departmental or studio recital, or on an honors recital, are required before the Junior Recital. 7 The Junior and Senior Recitals may be performed during the first or the second semester, or during Winter Term. In order for Baroque cello/viola da gamba majors to fulfill the Junior and Senior recital requirements, each instrument must be performed on at least one-half of a recital (either the entire junior or one-half of the Senior recital). Music Theory and Aural Skills Requirement. Students are expected to register for Music Theory and Aural Skills courses each semester until they have completed the requirements. Part or all of these requirements may be waived by placement examination when the student enters Oberlin. If the minimum passing scores are not achieved for placement in Music Theory I (MUTH 131) and Aural Skills I (MUTH 101), a student must first take Introduction to Music Theory (MUTH 120) and/or Introduction to Aural Skills (MUTH 100). If a student exempts Aural Skills I, II, III, or IV, then Aural Skills V (MUTH 301) becomes the terminal course in the sequence. Music Theory I-IV and Aural Skills I-IV must be taken concurrently, e.g., a student will register for Music Theory I and Aural Skills I in the same semester. Under certain circumstances, with the permission of the appropriate division director and the Music Theory division director, students will be allowed to take Aural Skills IV and Music Theory IV separately. A student's aural skills requirement must be completed before the senior recital can be scheduled. Double-degree students will resolve any conflicts with these expectations in consultation with their advisors. Electives. A student should select electives based on the following: a minimum of 76 hours of Conservatory courses is required; a minimum of 24 hours of liberal arts is required. Aims. This program of study is designed to prepare students for careers in performance on certain early instruments and for the combination of performance and musicology. Advising. It is expected that majors in these early music instruments will work in close consultation with their advisors regarding the distribution of required courses over the four-year sequence. Expository Writing Proficiency. Students with an SAT verbal score below 580 or an ACT score below 24, or a TOEFL score below 600 must complete one course chosen from the EXWR 111-119 series.   back to top Minor Study: Performance (Harpsichord, recorder, lute, Baroque flute, Early oboes, Baroque violin, Baroque cello, Viola da gamba, Baroque cello/viola da gamba) Eligibility 1. The student must be a degree student in the Conservatory. 2. The student must be recommended by his or her private study teacher, and approved by the Historical Performance Committee, after at least two semesters of secondary study. Course Requirements 1. Completion of at least six semesters of secondary private study. (One or two semesters may be waived, as described under "Private Applied Study Courses in Performance.") 2. HPRF 302 (Introduction to Historical Performance) and at least one further course in Historical Performance. Non-Course Requirements 1. First and Second Minor Committee Examinations (the examinations may be taken at any time before graduation at the discretion of the Historical Performance Committee). 2. One departmental recital appearance.   back to top