LMUS
3123

From Orchestras to Boy Bands: Histories of Musical Collectivity

Eugene Lang College Lib Arts: The Arts

Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Course
From Orchestras to Boy Bands
Fall 2025
Taught By: Ethan Philbrick
Section: A

CRN: 18210

Credits: 4

How do people gather in and through music? What kinds of social relations does music make possible and impossible? What do shifting forms of musical collectivity tell us about the political antagonisms of particular times and places? This course traverses questions such as these by studying a variety of musical ensembles in their historical contexts. Orchestras, marching bands, string quartets, drum lines, community choruses, jazz combos, girl groups, boy bands, and hip hop cyphers all have one thing in common: they are groups of people making music as a social unit. By investigating forms of musical collectivity, the course approaches music-making as a fundamentally relational and social practice. Students will listen to music, read critical texts, write short essays, and create ensemble music projects, all in an effort to build their understanding of how the politics of class, nation, race, gender, and sexuality constitute forms of musical sociability, and also how musical relationships re-negotiate and contest political forces in a variety of historical contexts.

Prerequisites: No Prerequisites
Co-Requisites: No Co-requisites

College: Eugene Lang College Lib Arts (LC)

Department: The Arts (ART)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 18

Repeat Limit: N/A

Add/Drop Deadline: September 9, 2025 (Tuesday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: November 17, 2025 (Monday)

Seats Available: Yes

Status: Open*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 11:24am EDT 3/15/2025

Meeting Info:
Days: Tuesday, Thursday
Times: 10:00am - 11:40am
Building: TBD
Room: TBD
Date Range: 8/27/2025 - 12/15/2025