Form and expectation are tied intimately to musical expression. In this course, we will investigate scholars’ ideas about musical form and conventions, listener expectations, and expression. We will apply these ideas primarily to tonal and post-tonal concert music, including works by Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, Stravinsky, and Carter. We will consider other repertories as desired by members of the class. Course assignments and activities will consist of reading, listening, musical analysis, discussion, presentations, and prose writing. Students will have opportunities to apply approaches studied in the course to works of their choice. This course fulfills the requirement for Graduate Seminar for Mannes MM students.