MUSIC 109The Music of the Beatles

3 credits · Music · Penn State

The Beatles are the most significant musical group in the history of popular music. Their songs are derived from diverse sources, such as rhythm and blues, country and western, rockabilly, rock and roll, Motown, soul, folk rock, the British music hall, and the classical music traditions of Europe and India. MUSIC 109 : The Music of the Beatles, an online course, will consider the music of the Fab Four by examining how John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison developed as songwriters. Besides an exploration of the Beatles' music, including the artists and styles of music that influenced them, this online course will include a study of the socio-cultural contexts from which the Fab Four emerged and in which they thrived. Finally, the course will introduce students to the fundamentals of music, as well as ways to integrate that knowledge with the interpretation of song texts.