Welcome to the Division of Music History, Theory, and Ethnomusicology
The Division of Music History, Theory, and Ethnomusicology is a vibrant contributor to the College of Music. MHTE maintains a full range of academic programs from the bachelor's to the doctorate. In fact, the Ph.D. program, celebrating more than a half-century of activity, was the first in the university. Today more than 70 students are enrolled in its graduate programs.
The division offers the B.A. in Music with an emphasis in Music History; the B.M. in Music Theory, the Master of Arts in Music with concentrations in musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, and musicology with an emphasis in early music performance; the Ph.D. in Music with concentrations in music theory, musicology, and musicology with an emphasis in early music performance.
As a hub of academic activity, the division fosters a wide range of activities. Students are encouraged to take advantage of our faculty's vast expertise in historical musicology, theory, and ethnomusicology. Division faculty members have been recognized with significant awards for outstanding teaching, research, service and the promotion of diversity in teaching and across campus. The division sponsors a lecture series that annually attracts scholars from throughout the world, regularly invites short residencies from major figures in the disciplines, and in recent years has hosted important international conferences on Strauss, Berlioz, 500 years of printed music, and Argentine Song. MHTE publishes Theoria, a journal devoted to historical aspects of music theory, recently achieving its sixteenth volume. Faculty lead study abroad opportunities in Eastern Europe, India, Ghana, and China. In 2009, MHTE hosted the AMS-Southwest and SEM-Southern Plains chapter meetings.
The Early Music Performance program, one of the largest in the United States, has been designated an area of excellence within the College. Its Baroque Orchestra maintains an extraordinary level of historically informed performance on period instruments and garners international acclaim. The early music performance program is led by the acclaimed conductor, Paul Leenhouts. Dr. Richard Sparks, Chair of Conducting and Ensembles, works closely with musicology faculty on the "musicology with an emphasis in early music performance studies" curriculum.
The newest program is the master’s degree in Ethnomusicology, now in its seventh year. The College of Music is the proud steward of a full Balinese gamelan, given the name "Bwana Kumala," Jewel of the World. Ethnomusicology and world music ensemble faculty engage in collaborative efforts through the Global Music consortium, a group of faculty dedicated to the study, transmission, and enhanced understanding of music cultures throughout the world.
Division students regularly present their research at regional, national and international conferences and engage with their colleagues as well as faculty through GAMuT, the Graduate Association of Musicologists and Theorists.
While the faculty members have achieved distinction in the full range of their respective disciplines, UNT has become noted as center for study in early music, African and African American music, and especially nineteenth and early twentieth century music. With regard to the latter, an important focal point of activity is the Center for Schenkerian Studies, which particularly seeks to integrate scholarship and performance, and publishes its own Journal of Schenkerian Studies. In Spring 2009, the Center sponsored the Hans Weisse Memorial Concert and a residency by theorist, Allen Forte. More recent lectures, publications, and concerts by our faculty can be found under the individual biographies.
We hope that you will be encouraged to learn more about our programs, attend concerts and lectures sponsored by MHTE, and meet our outstanding faculty and students.
For additional information about our programs, please contact Prof. Eileen M. Hayes, division chair, at eileen.hayes@unt.edu.
Dr. Ruth Smith presents lecture on Handel and Politics
Winning an audience in 18th-century England: Handel and politics
Modern artists often feel they have to try to be ‘relevant’. In 18th-century England, relevance of art to politics and ideology was expected and looked for. This talk explores ways in which Handel, a master assimilator, engaged with the traditions, ideas and events of his adopted country and his time, while aiming to win audiences for his art.
Ruth Smith is a regular writer, lecturer and broadcaster on Handel’s oratorios and operas, focusing on the ways in which they reflect the ideas and events of their time. Her Cambridge University Press book, Handel’s Oratorios and Eighteenth-Century Thought (1995) was awarded a Cambridge University PhD and a British Academy Prize. Recent speaking engagements have taken her to Australia, South Africa and the USA. She enjoyed several seasons of collaboration with Graeme Jenkins at the Dartington International Summer School. Recent publications include articles on Handel’s evocation of Old Testament instruments in Saul, on the psychological realism of Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, and on the rationale of the plot of Jephtha.
Join us on February 22, 2012; 4-5 p.m. on the stage of Voertmann Concert Hall for this fascinating lecture by Dr. Ruth Smith.
GAMuT: Graduate Association of Musicologists und Music Theorists
The Graduate Association of Musicologists und Theorists (GAMuT) is a graduate student organization dedicated to providing a forum for the presentation of original research by its members. Recent research presentations have included "From Outward Appearance to Inner Reality: A Brief Journey Through Copland's Inscape," "Dropping the Beat: Formal Devices of Buildups in Trance and House Music," and “Smuggling, Betrayal, and the Handle of a Gun: Death and Autonomy in Two Narcocorridos." In addition, GAMuT offers a forum for discussion of matters relevant to the academic lives of its members and serves as an organized liaison between students and faculty in the Division of Music History, Theory, and Ethnomusicology. Each year, GAMuT publishes a journal, Harmonia, that features papers written by graduate students.
Reception honors Margaret Notley and Richard Sparks
Provost Warren Burrgren and President Lane Rawlins hosted UNT's annual Promotion and Tenure Reception on October 11, 2011 in the Club Room of the new Apogee Stadium. The promotion of Dr. Margaret Notley was recognized as was that of Professor Richard Sparks, Professor of Conducting. The Provost extolled even the full professors to continue to distinguish themselves in their careers and to never stop in their pursuits of excellence in research and creative activity. A busy week of CoM events culminated in Abendmusik on Friday evening at Winspear Hall, with a performance by the Baroque Orchestra and Collegium Singers, professors Paul Leenhouts and Richard Sparks, conducting. Professors Bernado Illari and Hendrik Schulze are working closely with the early music faculty to solidify the curriculum of the Ph.D. in musicology with the emphasis in early music. Dean James C. Scott and Eileen M. Hayes joined Professor Notley and Dr. Sparks for the celebration.
(Photo/Jonathan Reynolds, UNT/URCM)
Hidetoshi Fukuchi returns to the College of Music
The division welcomes the return of one of its graduates, music theorist, Dr. Hidetoshi Fukuchi, who joined the MHTE faculty in fall 2011. Dr. Fukuchi received B.M., M.M., and Ph.D. in Music Theory from UNT. Previously he taught at UNT, Luther College, and Oklahoma City University. His main research interest centers on Arnold Schoenberg’s aesthetic philosophy and its relationship to his twelve-tone works. His dissertation reevaluates Schoenberg’s compositional philosophy and aesthetics in light of his compositional practices in Op. 34. His other scholarly interests include pedagogy of music theory, jazz, and Japanese traditional and popular music. His current research concerns the evolution of chanting styles, aesthetics, and the spiritual role of Shigin, the Japanese art of chanting poems written in the Chinese style.
MHTE Faculty Recognized for Achievements
On November 23, 2011, the chair recognized numerous faculty for awards and other honors they had received during the period, 2010-2011. Among the highlights: Paul Dworak, Minnie Piper Stevens Award nomination; Timothy Jackson, UNT Distinguished Research Professor; Graham Phipps, Regents Professor nomination; David Schwarz, Early Career award nomination; Joan Groom, delighted at the announcement of the Joan Groom Award for the Best Senior Thesis in Music Theory; Thomas Sovik, honored by the Czech Music Foundation; Steven Friedson, UNT Distinguished Research Professor; Bernardo Illari, on his most recent book on Espanola; Margaret Notley, recipient, travel grant from the American Philosophical Society, and Frank Heidlberger, editor, critical edition of Carl Maria von Weber's Concertino for Clarinet.
Undergraduate Calendar Update
All transfer students should plan on taking the TPE (theory proficiency exam) in April. The dates are as follows:
Written exam: April 18
Aural Skills: April 19
Keyboard and sight-singing: Individual appointments from April 16-20. See Dr. Eileen Hayes (eileen.hayes@unt.edu) with questions.
