Mark Whitney
Fall 2025
MWF 10:10–11:00
254-495-5975 (text preferred)
mark_whitney@baylor.edu
DATES TO REMEMBER
FRI 9/15: Last day to take LISTENING TEST 1
WED 9/17: WRITTEN TEST 1 (thru FRI class time, 9/19)
TUE 9/30: Last day to take LISTENING TEST 2
THU 10/16: Last day to take LISTENING TEST 3
WED 10/29: WRITTEN TEST 2 (thru FRI class time, 11/01)
WED 11/05: Last day to TAKE LISTENING TEST 4
TUE 11/20: Last day to take LISTENING TEST 5
THU 12/11: Last day to TAKE LISTENING TEST 6
MON 12/15: FINAL (WRITTEN TEST 3) Completed by 5:00 p.m.
STUDY GUIDES FOR WRITTEN TESTS
SCM 034: Study Sheet for WRITTEN TEST 1
SCM 098: Study Sheet for WRITTEN TEST 2
SCM 151: Study Guide for FINAL TEST
Lecture slides: (2025-08-25) (2025-08-27) (2025-08-29) (2025-09-03) (2025-09-05) (2025-09-08) (2025-09-10) (2025-09-12) (2025-09-15)
READINGS, SCORES, AND RECORDINGS
The Symphony by Preston Stedman (2nd Ed)
Supplemental Course Materials (SCM)
Scores and Recordings
GOAL: The goal of this course is to develop a thorough knowledge of the masterworks of the symphonic repertoire from aural, historical, and stylistic perspectives.
FORMAT: The course will consist of lectures and discussions on the assigned readings and listening materials. The listening component carries significant weight (60 percent of total grade). There are six listening tests and three written tests. The written tests (40 percent of total grade), taken by computer in the library, are composed of multiple-choice, short-answer, and occasional essay questions that require synthesis of the material rather than mere memorization. The essay questions are designed to reflect typical questions encountered in graduate oral examinations.
LISTENING: The listening component has been divided into six segments. The early segments represent about three hours of music each; the later ones are slightly shorter. The materials (sound sources and scores) are available online as sound files. This segment of the course is self-paced, but is designed to follow the sequence of class content. Most of the assigned listening is specifically discussed in one or more texts; all of it is designed to reinforce class discussions.
TAKING LISTENING TESTS: When you are prepared to take a listening test, report to the Crouch Fine Arts service desk and sign in. Then take the test on a library computer with lock-down browser. The time limit for each test is 15 minutes. After completing the test, return to the service desk and sign out. The staff will retain your timesheet. There will be no retests. Please plan to adhere to the listening test schedule shown in this syllabus.
ATTENDANCE: Regular attendance is extremely important because of the great amount of material covered in every class period. The class will lose your point of view if you are absent. Ten (10) or more absences for any reason will be sufficient cause for failure.
MAKE-UP EXAMS: Make-ups pose many problems and will be given only when there is real justification. Oversleeping, headaches, performances the night before, other tests on the same day, etc. do not constitute reasonable justification for a make-up test.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Assignments are due at the beginning of the class time for which they are assigned.
GRADING: A cumulative point total will be kept from all tests. The following scale will be applied to the cumulative point totals:
| 92% or above | A |
| 88%–91% | B+ |
| 82%–87% | B |
| 78%–81% | C+ |
| 72%–77% | C |
| 62%–71% | D |
| 61% or below | F |
HOW TESTS WILL BE WEIGHTED
Listening Tests (10% each X 6 = 60% of total grade)
Written Tests (10% per test for TESTS 1 and 2; 20% for TEST 3 = 40% of total grade)
(Written TEST 3 is double-weighted becuase it covers the last third of the class but also includes items pertaining to the course as a whole.)
GRADE BOOSTERS: Each student can earn up to seven points toward the final grade by submitting two "program notes" (800 words each; worth up to two points each) and one ten-minute pre-concert talk (worth up to three points) on any major composition studied in the course. These are optional but strongly encouraged.
GRADUATE STUDENTS AND UNDERGRADUATE HONORS PROGRAM STUDENTS: In addition to the normal class expectations and requirements, graduate students and honors program students are required to write an additional 7–10 page paper on the influence of societal changes in the development of symphonic music. Students are encouraged to choose alternate topics with the approval of the instructor.
USE OF AI IN WRITING PROJECTS: Guidelines will be provided in a separate document.
DEVELOP GOOD HABITS: You are strongly encouraged to:
Listening TEST 1 Materials
J.C. Bach: Symphony, Op. 18, #3
J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #2
Beethoven: Symphony #1
Corelli: Christmas Concerto
Handel: Concerto Grosso, Op. 3 #3
Haydn: Symphony #44
Haydn: Symphony #88
Mozart: Symphony #29
Vivaldi: Concerto Grosso op. 3, #8
Listening TEST 1 must be taken on or before MON September 15.
Book Supplement Materials
Corelli: Trio Sonata, Op. 3 #9
J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite #3
Handel: Overture to the Messiah
Pergolesi: Sinfonia to L'Olimpiade
Sammartini: Symphony #1
J. Stamitz: Sinfonia a8 (La Melodia Germanica #1)
Haydn: Symphony #6
Haydn: Symphony #88
Mozart: Symphony #1
Listening TEST 2 Materials
Beethoven: Symphony #2
Beethoven: Symphony #7
Beethoven: Symphony #8
Haydn: Symphony #104
Mozart: Symphony #40
Schubert: Symphony #8
Listening TEST 2 must be taken on or before TUE September 30.
Book Supplement Materials for TEST 2
Beethoven: Symphony #3
Beethoven: Symphony #4
Beethoven: Symphony #5
Beethoven: Symphony #6
Beethoven: Symphony #9
Listening TEST 3 Materials
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Brahms: Symphony #1
Liszt: Les Preludes
Mendelssohn: Symphony #4
Schumann: Symphony #1
Listening TEST 3 must be taken on or before THU October 16. (Moved to Sunday, October 19, 10:00 p.m.)
Book Supplement Materials for TEST 3
Liszt: Faust Symphony
Brahms: Symphony #2
Brahms: Symphony #3
Brahms: Symphony #4
Listening TEST 4 Materials
Bruckner: Symphony #4
Dvorak: Symphony #7
Strauss: Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony #4
Listening TEST 4 must be taken on or before THU November 6.
Book Supplement Materials for TEST 4
Tchaikovsky: Symphony #1
Tchaikovsky: Symphony #2
Tchaikovsky: Symphony #3
Tchaikovsky: Symphony #5
Tchaikovsky: Symphony #6
Dvorak: Symphony #8
Dvorak: Symphony #9
Franck: d Minor Symphony
Strauss: Domestic Symphony
Mahler: Symphony #5
Listening TEST 5 Materials
Sibelius: Symphony #4
Stravinsky: Symphony in three mvts.
Vaughn Williams: Symphony #6
Prokofiev: Symphony #5
Listening TEST 5 must be taken on or before TUE November 25.
Book Supplement Materials for TEST 5
Debussy: La Mer
Debussy: Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun
Ravel: Rhapsodie Espagnol
Schoenberg: 5 Pieces for Orchestra
Schoenberg: Variations for Orchestra, Op. 30
Webern: 5 Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 10
Webern: Symphony, Op. 21
Berg: Violin Concerto
Listening TEST 6 Materials
Hindemith: Concert Music for Strings and Brass
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra
Shostakovich: Symphony #5
Ives: Symphony #4
Listening TEST 6 must be taken on or before THU December 11.
Book Supplement Materials for TEST 6
Hindemith: Mathis der Maler
Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis Harris: Symphony #7
Lutoslawski: Symphony #3
Schuman: Symphony #3
Copland: Symphony #3
Riegger: Symphony #3
Tippett: Symphony #3
Sessions: Symphony #7
Taaffe Zwilich: Symphony #1
Reading items shown for each date should be considered the assignment for the next class meeting.
SCM 003: Development of the Classical Concerto
SCM 004: Reflections on the Bach Family Tree
SCM 006: Bach's Significant Orchestral Music
SCM 007: Rhetorical Devices in Bach's Musical Offering
SCM 008: Georg Friederich Händel
SCM 009: Georg Friederich Händel's Important Orchestral Works
SCM 010: The Orchestra of the Late Baroque
SCM 011: Rococo or Galant Period
SCM 012: Notes from Georgio Pestelli on the Galant Style
SCM 013: Georg Philip Telemann
SCM 014: Transition Period to the Classical Period and "Mannheim" School
SCM 016: Giovanni Battista Sammartini
SCM 017: Johnann Christian Bach
SCM 019: Rise in Popularity of the Symphony
SCM 020: Viennese Classical School
SCM 021: Franz Joseph Haydn (Biography)
SCM 022: Overview of F.J. Haydn and His Symphonies
SCM 023: Haydn's Orchestration
SCM 024: Haydn, Overview of the Famous "London" Symphonies
SCM 025: Analysis of Selected Haydn Symphonies
SCM 026: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
SCM 027: Mozart's Style Periods
Extended to MON Sept 15.
SCM 028: Overview of the Most Important of Mozart's Symphonies
SCM 030: Mozart, Other Orchestral Music
SCM 031: Analysis of Selected Mozart Symphonies
SCM 032: Chromaticism in Mozart and Haydn
SCM 033: Observations on Haydn and Mozart
SCM 034: Study Sheet for WRITTEN TEST 1
SCM 036: Overview of Beethoven's Style Periods
SCM 037: Analysis of Beethoven Symphony no 1
SCM 038: Beethoven's Heiligenstadt Testament
SCM 039: Maynard Solomon Commentary on the Heiligenstadt Testament
SCM 040: Analysis of Beethoven Symphony no 2
SCM 041: Analysis of Beethoven Symphony no 3
SCM 042: Analysis of Beethoven Symphony no 4
SCM 043: Analysis of Beethoven Symphony no 5
SCM 044: Analysis of Beethoven Symphony no 6
SCM 045: Analysis of Beethoven Symphony no 7
SCM 046: Analysis of Beethoven Symphony no 8
SCM 047: Beethoven's Symphony no 9: Flashbacks and Foreshadowings Along the Quest for Joy
SCM 048: Analysis of Beethoven Symphony no 9, mvt 4
SCM 049: Analysis of Beethoven Symphony no 9
SCM 052: Analysis of Schubert Symphonies
SCM 054: Important Instrumental Works of Felix Mendelssohn
SCM 055: Mendelssohn Symphony no 4 Analysis (See Box folder.)
SCM 057: Important Instrumental Works of Robert Schumann
SCM 058: Analysis of Schumann Symphonies
SCM 060: Moore and Heger Analysis of Symphonie fantastique
SCM 062: Moore and Heger Analyses of Liszt Works
SCM 063: Late 19th Century, Two Schools of Thought
SCM 064: Johannes Brahms, Interesting Traits
SCM 065: Brahms's Early Orchestral Works
SCM 066: Jonathan Kramer's Commentary on Brahms's Overtures
SCM 071: Overview of Post-Romantic Developments
SCM 074: Zhimirsky on Tchaikovsky Symphonies
SCM 075: Tchaikovsky and Madame von Meck
SCM 076: Analysis of Tchaikovsky, Sym 4
SCM 077: Analysis of Tchaikovsky, Sym 5
SCM 078: Analysis of Tchaikovsky, Sym 6
SCM 079: Other Significant Tchaikovsky Orchestral Works
SCM 080: Vasily Sergevich Kalinnikov
SCM 082: Rachmaninoff's Works by Year
SCM 083: Analysis of "Isle of the Dead"
SCM 085: Analysis of New World Symphony (mvts 2-4 only)
SCM 086: Dvorak's Other Significant Orchestral Music
LAST DAY TO TAKE LISTENING TEST 3 (closes 10:00 p.m.)
SCM 089: Bruckner Symphonies, Overview by Beverly Everett
SCM 090: Analysis of Bruckner Symphony no 4
SCM 093: Mahler Symphonies, Overview by Norman Gamboa
SCM 095: Analysis of Mahler, Symphony no. 4
SCM 097: Analysis of Selected Strauss Tone Poeme
SCM 098: Study Sheet for WRITTEN TEST 2
SCM 102: Analysis of Franck, Symphony in D Minor
SCM 103: Other French Composers;
SCM 105: A Debussy Conversation
SCM 106: Achille Claude Debussy
SCM 107: Kramer on Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
SCM 108: Analysis of Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
SCM 109: Analysis of Debussy's Iberia
SCM 111: Analysis of Ravel, Mother Goose Suite
SCM 117: The Scandanavian School
SCM 118: Carl Nielsen and His Six Symphonies
SCM 120: Analysis of Sibelius Symphonies
SCM 123: Elgar's Enigma Variations
SCM 125: Ralph Vaughan Williams
SCM 126: Analysis of Vaughan Williams, Symphony no 2 ("London")
SCM 127B: Analysis of Holst, "Jupiter"
SCM 132: Prokofiev's Style and Important Works
SCM 133: Analysis of Prokofiev Symphonies
SCM 135: Shostakovich Commentary and Background on Symphonies
SCM 136: Analysis of Shostakovich Symphonies
SCM 138: Stravinsky's Early Ballets
SCM 140: Stravinsky, L'Histoire du soldat
SCM 141: Stravinsky, Pulcinella Suite
SCM 142: Stravinsky, Dumbarton Oaks Concerto
SCM 144: Additional Notes on Hindemith
SCM 145: Peter Hawes, Remembering a Musical Master
SCM 146: Analysis of Mathis der Maler
SCM 148: Additional Notes on Bartok
SCM 149A: Bartok, Concerto for Orchestra
SCM 149B: Analysis of Concerto for Orchestra
SCM 151: Study Guide for FINAL TEST
SCM 152: Review for 20th-Century Portion of Final
SCM 153: Some Composers of Symphonies and Symphonic Music Since 1960
SCM 154: Work-lists of 19th-century Symphonists
SCM 155: A Chronology of the Symphony, 1730-2019