For centuries music has been conscripted into performing functions such as the organization of troops on the field, the boosting of morale at home and abroad, and the advancing of various nationalistic, patriotic, and political ideologies. Thinkers as diverse as Plato (in Republic) and the execs at Clear Channel radio company (in the days immediately after September 11) have attempted to regulate or even censor certain types of music in their reactions to wars.

In January, 2004, we found ourselves in tempore belli—in a time of war. In this seminar, we asked ourselves several questions, including:

• How does that affect the ways we produce and consume music?
• Furthermore, how are those musical productions and consumptions modelled after earlier reactions to war?
• What kinds of stylistic devices have composers used to represent war and its consequences?
• How have compositional reactions to war changed and not changed across history?
• And finally, to what ends has music been used by political and military leaders during times of war?

Beginning with a study of how earlier composers like Biber and Beethoven approached the topic of war in their music, we then moved out to broader topics including the problems of war representation in film and photography, instances of government censorship during times of war, and attention to the current conflict known as the war on terrorism. These presentations represent the culminating final product of the five students (3 senior and 1 junior music majors, & 1 senior English major). We would welcome any feedback.

Picture Sources:

Sandino - Poster for 1985 art exhibition by that title (Sandino lives…Nicaragua will survive), based on oil painting by Morales (Adiós a Sandino); Gallery of Casa Fernando Gordillo, Managua.  Taken from David Craven’s 2002 Art and Revolution in Latin America 1910-1990, p.155.

Leningrad - ????

Naqoyqatsi - http://sale-depot.net/dvd/item/B00005JLIA/Naqoyqatsi.html

Rambo - http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/images/movie/large/Rambo_III.jpg

Music - http://www.keyboard-creations.co.uk/beethoven.htm