Overview
In this unit, you will study the history and stylistic trends of Western art music in the 20th century. Your studies will focus on prominent musicians, composers and their repertoire through advanced analytical techniques of scores and recordings. You will also investigate important forms and instruments; aural characteristics of the music, as well as the technological, sociological and political events that influenced musical trends during this period.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: Completion of 72 credit points in CG51.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- Evaluate the important musical, structural and aural characteristics of Western art music of the 20th century
- Analyse musical works from prominent art music composers of the 20th century
- Evaluate the contribution of significant composers and musicians to the development of Western art music of the 20th century
- Contextualise the principal stylistic trends of Western art music within the important social and political movements of the 20th century.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
| 4 - Research | ||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Word
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
d.reaston@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Unit Introduction
Impressionism and Symbolism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Primitivism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Surrealism and Neoclassicism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Expressionism and Twelve-Tone Music
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
American Experimentalism
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Nationalism
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Influence of Politics
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Total Serialism
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Indeterminacy
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Electronic Music
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Minimalism
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Post-modernism and New Trends
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
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Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
This assessment will consist of specific repertoire related tasks which correlate with unit content covered in the first half of the term. These tasks include:
- listening to, and analysing specific repertoire
- score reading and annotation
- answering repertoire related questions in written responses.
Assessment Submission and Presentation
You must submit:
- Completed Repertoire Study tasks in their required format: PDF (.pdf) or Microsoft Word Document (.docx)
- The Microsoft Word document must use 12 point Times New Roman font; must use double spacing for the body of the assignment; may use sub-headings to organise your assignment clearly; and must adhere to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide.
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 1: You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Please refer to the Moodle Assessment tile for specific details.
Week 6 Monday (25 Aug 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 8 Monday (8 Sept 2025)
- Accuracy of repertoire related tasks (100%)
- Evaluate the important musical, structural and aural characteristics of Western art music of the 20th century
- Analyse musical works from prominent art music composers of the 20th century
- Evaluate the contribution of significant composers and musicians to the development of Western art music of the 20th century
2 Written Assessment
In this assessment, you are to research one of the following topics, and present your research as a 2000–2500-word essay.
Topic 1: During the 20th century, Art Music composers in Australia began to incorporate various elements into their music in search of an Australian voice. For this topic, you are to discuss and analyse the work of one composer–either Peter Sculthorpe, George Dreyfus, Anne Boyd, or Ross Edwards—and the influences and stylistic characteristics they employed to achieve an Australian sound. Provide appropriate score samples, text sources, and links to recordings/videos to support your research.
Topic 2: During the early 20th century, changes in the social and political landscape created a climate in which women composers began to have a greater voice. In this essay, you are to discuss and analyse the music and legacy of either Lili or Nadia Boulanger. Your discussion should cite stylistic influences and characteristics of their music, contextualised within the representation of women's music in the 20th century more generally. Provide appropriate score samples, text sources, and links to recordings/videos to support your research.
Topic 3: Les Six (The Six) is the name given to a group of composers comprising of Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honegger, Darius Milhaud, Francis Poulenc, and Germaine Tailleferre. In this topic, you are to discuss and analyse the music of one of these composers. Your discussion should address the influence of Erik Satie on their work, citing stylistic influences and characteristics of their music. Use appropriate score samples, text sources, and links to recordings/videos to support your research.
Assessment Submission and Presentation
Your assessment must be submitted as a Microsoft Word Document (.docx) and:
- Must use 12-point Times New Roman font, and double spacing for the body of the assignment
- Include your name and student number on each page as part of a header or footer
- Must adhere to the CQUniversity APA Style Guide
- All music score excerpts and or recorded audio/video examples should include an in-text reference, and full details included in the reference list.
*The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 2 - You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Please refer to the Moodle Assessment tile for specific details.
Week 11 Monday (29 Sept 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Monday (20 Oct 2025)
Content:
- Appropriateness of introduction and conclusion (10%)
- Accuracy of information and depth of treatment of the topic (20%)
- Flow of information and development of argument or theme (15%)
- Use of primary sources to support argument or theme (15%)
- Ability to critically evaluate research findings (15%)
General points:
- Referencing system precision (10%)
- Accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar; clarity of writing style (10%)
- Meeting delivery requirements (presentation, word count*, style guide) (5%)
- Evaluate the important musical, structural and aural characteristics of Western art music of the 20th century
- Analyse musical works from prominent art music composers of the 20th century
- Evaluate the contribution of significant composers and musicians to the development of Western art music of the 20th century
- Contextualise the principal stylistic trends of Western art music within the important social and political movements of the 20th century.
3 Written Assessment
This assessment will be in the form of a listening quiz which will test your aural awareness and knowledge of repertoire covered throughout the unit. You will be played excerpts of repertoire and asked a series of questions in which you may have to describe:
- the name the composer and the work
- instrumentation
- melodic and harmonic characteristics
- tonality
- form and style.
Additionally, you will be asked to comment on excerpt(s) not covered in the listening list, and in 150 to 200 words, argue which style or trend this music represents based on your aural analysis of the following musical features: melody, harmony/tonality, rhythm, and orchestration. You are to use specific timestamps from the excerpt to support your argument, and compare and draw conclusions using specific examples from the provided repertoire list.
Assessment Submission and Presentation
- This Quiz will become available on Monday of week 13 at 9am AEST, and can be completed anytime in week 13, before Friday, 11:45pm AEST.
AI Assessment scale tool:
Level 1: You must not use Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding the use of AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
Please refer to the Moodle Assessment tile for specific details.
Review/Exam Week Friday (17 Oct 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Assessment to be returned at the end of the Term.
- Accuracy of repertoire related tasks (100%)
- Evaluate the important musical, structural and aural characteristics of Western art music of the 20th century
- Analyse musical works from prominent art music composers of the 20th century
- Evaluate the contribution of significant composers and musicians to the development of Western art music of the 20th century
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
