To

?

SENATE 

....... 

........................................... 

NEW C 

OURSE PROPOSAL- G.S 

..................................... 

106-3 - 

MOTION: ? 

"That Senate approve, and recommend approval to the 

Board of Governors, the new course proposal for 

G.S. 106-3 - Opera, as set forth in S.75-100." 

If the above motion is approved, 

MOTION: ? 

"That Senate waive the normal two semester time 

lag requirement in order that this course may be 

first offered in the Spring semester 76-1." 

To..................SENATE 

?

.

.

From 

......SENATECOIITTEEONUND..GRAD.UA.. 

STUDIES 

..............CPUR.SEPR9POS4L-G .S .106-3 

OPERA 

Date...... 

At its meeting of June 17, 1975, the Senate Committee on Undergraduate 

Studies discussed the attached proposal for G.S. 106-3 - Opera. It was made 

clear that this course should be included amongst the General Studies courses, 

offered by the Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, on the same basis as the 

existing courses in music and art - that is, that, upon the establishment of a 

program in the Fine and Performing Arts, the course will be reviewed with a 

view to establishing the appropriateness of its inclusion in such a program. 

With this understanding, the Committee is forwarding this proposal 

to Senate with its recommendation that it be approved and that the normal two 

semester time lag requirement be waived in order that it can be first offered 

in the Spring semester 76-1. 

- -, 

1

Mugr dge 

.

Space 

Equipment 

. -. 

Chairman 

5. Approval 

Date:_____________________ 

Chairman, SCUS 

)c ? 

COMMITTEE ON UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES? 

NEW COURSE PROPOSAL PORN 

Calendar Information ? 

Department: 

Abbreviation 

Code: C, 

s

Course Number:106 

?

Credit Hours:3 

Vector: 

3-0-0 

Title of Course: 

?

Calendar Description of 

Course: 

Nature of Course 

Prerequisites (or special instructions): 

?

What course (courses), if any, is being dropped from the calendar if this course is 

approved: ? 

2.

Scheduling 

How frequently will the 

course be offered? 

?

Semester 

in which the course will first be offered? 

?

Which of your present faculty 

would 

be available to make the proposed offering 

possible? ? 

Objectives of the Course 

4. Bud 

g

etar y 

and Space Requirements (for information only) 

What additional resources 

will be required in the following areas: 

Faculty 

?

Staff 

Library 

Audio Visual 

SCUS 73-34b:- (When completing this form, for instructions see Memorandum SCUS 73-34a. 

Attach course outline). 

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY 

Fall, 1975 

SG.S. 106: OPERA 

General Information 

This course is designed to provide a broad general knowledge of opera 

and the history of opera. Attention will also focus on how voices are 

used in opera, and the way in which operas are presented and performed. 

The course is offered in cooperation with and through the facilities of 

the VANCOUVER OPERA ASSOCIATION and does not assume prior knowledge of 

or competence in music. 

Place of meeting 

All classes will be held in the main hall of the VOA at 111 Dunsmuir 

Street, across from the bus station, in downtown Vancouver. 

Time of meeting 

Every Wednesday night from 7:00-9:30pm beginning 10 September 1975. 

In

t ru c to r 

Course instructor: Dr. Alan D. Aberbach 

Guest instructors: Mr. Brian Hanson, General Manager, VOA 

Mr. Richard Bonynge, Musical and Artistic Director 

Other members of the VOA staff 

Topics and sessions 

September 10: 

The nature of opera. 

?

Vocal categories. 

?

The

way voices are used in 

opera. 

September 

. 17: 

Italian opera: 

?

the bel 

canto tradition. 

?

Opera 

in terms of Italian history 

and society. 

September 24: 

Italian opera: 

?

Verdi. 

His evolution as an 

operatic composer. 

October 

?

1:

Italian opera: 

?

Romanticism 

and verismo. 

October 8:  

German opera: 

?

Part 

?

1.

Opera in terms of German 

history and society. 

October ? 

15:

German opera: 

?

Part ? 

2.

Wagner. 

October 

?

22:

French opera: 

?

Part 

?

1.

Opera in terms of French 

history and society. 

October 29:  

French opera: 

?

Part 2. 

November 5:  

Russian opera. 

?

Opera 

in terms of Russian history 

and society. 

November 

?

12:

Opera as 

?

a vehicle of 

and ? 

for historical nationalism. 

November 19: 

Opera and 

?

literature. 

A survey of 

?

the

?

literary 

masterpieces on which 

operas have been based. 

November ? 

26:

A historical 

?

survey ? 

of

the

?

libretto in opera. 

December ? 

3:

'

Opera production: 

?

musical 

direction, 

?

stage ? 

direc- 

tion, ? 

stage 

?

setting, 

?

economics. 

December 10: 

Essay Conference. 

?

Private 

meetings to be arranged 

,

to discuss 

the term paper. 

Grades 

Grades depend upon the research and presentation of the term paper. Topics 

must be approved in advance. Two copies of the term paper are required but 

one will be returned to. you toward the end of the semester. Final date for 

submission of papers is Wednesday, 3 December. A private conference to 

discuss the paper will be scheduled for Wednesday evening, 10 December. 

A complete reading list in addition to possible term paper topics will be available 

at the first session of class. 

Partial Reading List 

George Martin, The Opera Companion. Vol. .: A Guide for the casual 

operagoer. This is probably the best paperback to illustrate 

the non-historical elements of opera. Vol. 2, The Synopsis, 

offers witty and informative plot summaries. 

Grave's Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Edited by Eric 

.      Blom 

this 

volume set is considered by many a the music bible, 

P.J. Smith, The Tenth Muse, A historical Study of the Opera Libretto. 

Self-explanatory. 

R. Bing, 5000 Nights at the Opera. What it 

is like 

to run an opera 

. ?

house; 

complete with human interest anecdotes and Bing nastiness. 

J.M. Knapp, The Magic of Opera. Sharp and perceptive background. 

Q .

Eaton, Opera Production. Tells short plots of familiar and 

unfamiliar operas but includes what vocal range is required, 

instrumentation demands, special problems, etc. 2 Vols. 

W. Volbach,.Problenis of Opera Production. 

Kobbe's Complete Opera Book. Edited and revised by the Earl of 

Harewood. Probably the best and most complete collection of 

opera plots. 

A complete reading list will be available at the first session of class. 