Music

The Amherst College Jazz Ensemble meets a minimum of 2X per week in rehearsals and gives a minimum of three performances each semester. Membership is possible for those who perform on traditional jazz instrumentation (saxophones, brass, piano, guitar, bass, drums, vibes) as well as vocalists.

Listening to a wide variety of music from Mahler to Kaija Saariaho, reading historical documents and other relevant essays, we'll explore symptoms of modernism and how composers and their music interacted with their cultural milieu and historical context.

The music industry is in a state of constant evolution, responding to technological advances, cultural revolutions, and musical innovations. This seminar examines and analyzes the myriad of ways music is sold to the public, focusing on music’s role as a commodity which monetizes musical expressivity.