This course surveys significant developments in classical music of the twentieth century. From the impressionism of Debussy and Ravel at the beginning of the century to the minimalism of Steve Reich and Philip Glass at the end, we will study how composers sought to create new ways of constructing music, often trying to distance themselves from the traditions of the past. We will explore the compositional techniques that produced strikingly new sounds and styles, as well as the intellectual and historical contexts that shaped their development. Course activities center around listening, analysis of primary sources, and writing about music. Not offered 2026-27.