The Music History and Literature Department supports the undergraduate degree requirements with an attractive ratio of faculty to student, with six full-time faculty. Each faculty member is a recognized expert in their areas of concentration — which covers the full range of western music history from Medieval to Modern. Focused courses in opera, performance practice and the orchestral repertory, American music, Jazz, and World music are available.

The curriculum is brought to life by Collegium Musicum. Our Collegium Musicum is an award winning ensemble for students interested in music from the Medieval through the Early Baroque periods. Students with specializations of voice, flute, clarinet, saxophone, piano, trumpet, and trombone, stretch their musical appetites to include recorder, crumhorn, sacbut, cornetto, shawm, rackett, gamba, and assorted percussion. These unique sounds, along with the visual impact of all performers playing, singing, and dancing in period costume, contribute to a vibrant perspective of this music from the not too distant past.

Those students with a special interest in music history may take a music history minor. This involves 18 credits in music history courses. The music history survey courses for music majors (MHL 210-212) may be used toward this minor. For more information, please contact Dr. Sterling E. Murray, Chair and Professor of Music History, at 610.436.2284.