Below is a chronologically organized list, hyperlinked to clips whenever possible, of music studied in Professor Rounds’s English 242: Writing About Music course in Spring 2014. While the syllabus had grouped musical examples by topic (e.g., pieces with particularly strong sense of pulse, pieces with obvious textural changes, etc.), chronological organization gives a sense of the ultimate range of genres such a course can encompass. The list is meant as inspiration for future teachers of this course and as a reference for students who wish to return to any of the listening material.
Johann Sebastian Bach, Fugue in G Minor for organ (“Little” Fugue) (circa 1704)
Anonymous, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” (French melody dates to 1761)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Variations on “Ah! Vous dirais-je, maman” (circa 1781)
Mozart, Overture from The Marriage of Figaro (1786)
Mozart, excerpt from Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 for Strings) (1787)
John Stafford Smith/Francis Scott Key, “The Star-Spangled Banner” (1814)
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, 4th Movement (1824)
Erik Satie, Gymnopédie No. 1 (1888)
Patty Hill and J. Mildred Hill (?) “Happy Birthday” (1893)
Gustav Mahler, excerpt from Symphony No. 9 in D Major, 4th Movement (1909)
Igor Stravinsky, “Dance of the Young Maidens,” from The Rite of Spring (1913)
Benny Goodman, “Sing, Sing, Sing” (1937)
John Cage, “ 4’33,” ” (1952)
Chuck Berry, “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956)
Elvis Presley, “Jailhouse Rock” (1957)
The Beatles, “A Day in the Life” (1967)
Steve Reich, “Clapping Music” (1972)
Reich, “Music for Pieces of Wood” (1973)
Reich, “Check It Out” movement from City Life (1995)
Marvin Gaye, “Got to Give It Up” (1977)
Stephen Sondheim, “Opening Doors,” from Merrily We Roll Along (1981)
Sondheim, “Franklin Shepard, Inc,” from Merrily We Roll Along (1981)
Coolio, “Gangsta’s Paradise” (1995)
Blur, “Song 2” (1997)
Eminem, “Criminal” (2000)
Eminem, “Lose Yourself” (2002)
John Powell, The Bourne Identity score, main titles sequence (2002)
Parry Gripp, “Raining Tacos” (2012)
Taylor Swift, “22” (2012)
Robin Thicke, “Blurred Lines” (2013)
Beyonce, “Be Here Now” (2013)
Jon M. Chu (director), “VX Safety Dance,” Virgin America in-flight safety music video (2013)
Pharrell Williams, “Happy” (2014)
