Music in New Zealand

4 credits

The study of historical and contemporary music in New Zealand from analytical and cultural perspectives.

Popular, art and traditional music from NZ will be covered, beginning in the 19th century and ending with the present day. We will focus on some of the finest examples of music written in this country and examine its background and genesis. We will examine what makes New Zealand music distinctive and how it relates to musical trends from overseas.

Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will

• Gain an understanding of New Zealand music and how the music relates to events in this country’s history
• Gain detailed knowledge of selected works from popular, classical and world music and an understanding of the composers and songwriters who created these works
• Be able to make informed opinions about what makes New Zealand music distinctive and how it relates to music from overseas
• Be equipped to undertake further research into New Zealand music at higher levels