String Instrument Literature, Fall 2025 • School of Music, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign • MUS 560, Section A • CRN • Students have a choice of in-person instruction or asynchronous online attendance • In-person classes meet Fridays 1:00-2:50, Room 0304 Music Building (lower level, east corridor) • Instructor: Rudolf Haken • email rlhaken@illinois.edu • Office hours by appointment (in-person or Zoom)
SYLLABUS - FALL 2025
[Syllabus for spring 2025 can be found at www.rudolfhaken.com/stringlit]
I. Online / in-person modality
All lectures for this course are posted on YouTube, with links provided in section VII below. For each week’s videos you’ll need to submit an assignment as described in Section IV below. Students are given the choice of in-person attendance or asynchronous online attendance. “Asynchronous online” means you don’t need to be available during the listed class time of Fridays 1:00-2:50, Room 0304 Music Building (lower level, east corridor). Class meetings are optional, and are held for those students who feel they benefit from discussing material with their peers and their professor in person. We will not watch the videos together as a class. Instead, students are expected to watch videos before class on their own so that class time can be devoted to discussion. All required videos for the semester have already been posted, thus you have the option of working ahead in anticipation of particularly busy weeks (such as mid-terms or recitals). Please email me as soon as possible at rlhaken@illinois.edu with your preference for asynchronous online or in-person attendance. If you’ve indicated a preference for in-person lectures but need to be absent from one of the class sessions, (or, conversely, you’ve indicated a preference for online participation and decide you’d like to attend a particular class session in person, it won’t be a problem. Just be sure to let me know as long in advance as possible, and submit the "reaction paper" by the due date. If you know you’ll be busy on a Friday afternoon and evening, I recommend watching the videos and submitting the reaction paper earlier in the week, or even a few weeks in advance.
II. Course Summary/Description
This is the second in a two-semester sequence covering literature for bowed instruments from ancient times to the present. This semester covers music from ca. 1825 onward for bowed instruments from cultures across the globe. The course will also examine different notions of “music literature” as well as the influence of technology on bowed instruments and musical culture.
III. Curricular requirements for Master’s candidates
Two semesters of String Instrument Literature are required of all Master's performance candidates in violin, viola, cello, bass, electric violin and electric viola. These may be taken at any time during your Master’s studies. However, be sure one of them is during a Spring semester, and the other during a Fall semester. “Part 1” is offered every Spring semester and covers repertoire through ca. 1825. "Part 2" is offered every Fall semester and covers repertoire from 1825 to the present. You may take Part 2 (Fall semester) before Part 1 (Spring semester), although you might prefer to take them in chronological order.
IV. Assignments
Listed in Section VII below are videos you are required to watch before class time each Friday. By Sunday following class you are required to submit a “reaction paper” of 150-200 words. A “reaction papers is a short essay giving your impression of the music or lecture you’ve heard, how it relates to other music or other philosophies, how it affects you and might influence you. You have the option of watching videos and submitting reaction papers ahead of schedule. If you’ve indicated a preference for in-person lectures but need to be absent from one of the class sessions, it won’t be a problem and won’t affect your grade (although I ask that you let me know as soon as possible). Just be sure to submit the "reaction paper" by that Sunday.
V. How to submit assignments
For each student in the class I’ve created a cloud folder viewable only by that student and me. I’ll send you a link to your personal folder, to which you should submit the reaction papers each week. Instructions for creating filenames are included in each assignment listed in Section VII. You may submit reaction papers as doc, docx, pages, or txt files.
VI. Clarification of terms used in videos
For each video listed in Section VII below I’ve included the title as it appears on YouTube, even where titles might be confusing, outdated, or in some cases objectionable. The objectionable aspect is primarily in reference to terms for the Roma (Tzigane, Zigeuner, and Gypsy). We need to be sensitive to the pejorative connotations, even in cases where no harm was intended. Some Sinti (whose ancestors are from Sindh in modern-day Pakistan) consider themselves to be Roma, while others consider the Sinti to be a separate ethnicity. The terms Roma and Romani have only a coincidental similarity to Roman and Romanian, and in fact refer to entirely different ethnicities. This can cause confusion particularly when discussing musical styles, and care must be taken to use appropriate terms.
VII. Timeline for Fall 2025
Fri, Aug 29, 2025
No class August 29. We’ll begin Sept 5, as that is the add deadline for courses, and several students are likely to sign up late.
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Fri, Sept 5, 2025
Watch the video linked below before class time Friday, September 5, 2025. Lecture topic is Music notation. Write a “reaction paper” of approximately 150-250 words based on this lecture. (You will not be penalized if your essay is over 250 words.) Discuss your reaction to the content of the video, how it might affect the way you play or think about music, and bring up any relevant issues you see fit. Essay will be due Sunday, September 7, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-09-05” and upload it to the personal cloud folder I’ve created for you.
To access captions, select “cc” in the bottom right portion of the video.
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Fri, Sept 12, 2025
Watch the videos linked below before class time Friday, September 12, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, September 14, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-09-12.”
1. Stuff Smith with Ella Fitzgerald and the Oscar Peterson Trio https://youtu.be/c8gDlSeTQ5E
Violin solo begins at 1:37
Read about Stuff Smith https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuff_Smith
2. 20 Jazz Licks from Stuff Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP5XFHv8mxM
3. Born Jan. 21, 1904 Juice Wilson Kansas City Kitty https://youtu.be/slSmhb82q7U?t=89
Read about Juice Wilson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juice_Wilson
Read about Eddie South https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_South
5. Eddie South: Tzigane in Rhythm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ5T9NpmWng
6. Ginger Smock plays “Strange Blues” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orWUJ6lffjk
Read about Ginger Smock https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_Smock
8. Regina Carter - Nice Jazz Festival 1999 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agJqJ-6-LCA
Read about Regina Carter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Carter
9. Paul Chambers Bowed Jazz Bass https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkFEeS1wJU
10. Didier Lockwood Solo – Festival de Vienne https://youtu.be/1wm08kMvb3U
11. Papa John Creach – Filthy Funky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk030bVkMx0
Read about Papa John Creach https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papa_John_Creach
12.Papa John Creach – Georgia (en Vivo) Mexico https://youtu.be/_KMQv_sbmzY
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Fri, Sept 19, 2025
Watch the videos linked below before class time Friday, September 19, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, September 21, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-09-19.”
1, Kyle Brooks Kevin Olusola - Cello Beatboxing https://youtu.be/1o5IeNNXf7I
3. R&B Violin Freestyle - Damien Escobar https://youtu.be/vpOcUCLO26I
5. Violin Loop Station Gustavo Strauss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NuxoQYyGmw
6. I Wish - [Stevie Wonder] - Tracy Silverman Cover https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9x738fFmmc
7. Electric Violin Echo Jam! Bach-alypso! Robb Janov https://youtu.be/blAGwfyS9uc
8. No Ordinary Window Martha Mooke https://fb.watch/7rrVNROChf/
9. The HU - Wolf Totem (Official Music Video) https://youtu.be/jM8dCGIm6yc
Music from Mongolia https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mongolia/@46.5112416,94.8383279,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x3627050669aa6d4b:0xe0dd213937e6e096!8m2!3d46.862496!4d103.846656
10. Heavy Metal Electric Violin Solo - Earl Maneein https://youtu.be/qAau888RNs4
11. Joe Deninzon Electric Violin Concerto Montage https://youtu.be/xyNyZ1Ihrv8
12. Charumathi Raghuraman | Raga Behag https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESEJ1BdOVnM&t=20s
Read about Karnataka, India https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnataka
15. Kiravani Tanam in Violin by L Shankar https://youtu.be/ZDsjQvt2g6o
Violinist L. Shankar is not related to sitar player Ravi Shankar
Read about L. Shankar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Shankar
16. L. Shankar – Darlene https://youtu.be/q4PLOSiyp4M
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Fri, Sept 26, 2025
Watch the video linked below before class time Friday, September 26, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, September 28, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-09-26.”
History of the Bowed Electric String - Benedict Heaney https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7OnmOpT6gQ
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Fri, OCT 3, 2025
Watch the videos linked below before class time Friday, October 3, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, October 5, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-10-03.”
1. Kalumbu Song https://youtu.be/wk5c-VsKn1E
Music from the southern regions of Zambia
read about the San (Saan) people of Zambia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_people
2. Emazweni by Tshepo Mngoma – South African Violinist https://youtu.be/lKswg1C5Gfg
3. Huaynito del Peru Profundo en Arpa y Violin // Habascha de Chacña https://youtu.be/K3eNZFmpgqg
4. Cuban drumming - violin - iroko project https://youtu.be/15KxBjj5bzI
5. Mi Cultura en Casa Concierto Joshue Ashby https://youtu.be/luzNcWNPNr0
6. Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper "Lee Highway Blues" https://youtu.be/HE_G0OfJ-ew
7. Jean-Luc Ponty – New Country https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxBgDNwnX60
8. La Bottine Souriante - Festival d'été de Québec, 13 Juillet 1998 https://youtu.be/KYza0wxs7Ic
Read about La Bottine Souriante (“The smiling boot”) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Bottine_Souriante
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Fri, Oct 10, 2025
Watch the videos linked below before class time Friday, October 10, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, October 12, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-10-10.”
We will focus on the first part of the video, featuring the A’bel, a “mouth fiddle” played by the Co Tu (Katu) people of Central Vietnam. The string in the player’s mouth makes the instrument “speak” the syllables the player is forming, which is similar to the technique used for a Talk Box (which uses a tube instead of a string). While there is little information about the A’bel beyond the video above, here is a video detailing a similar instrument, the dan k’ni https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsRQxOf1tsQ
map of Hue Province, Vietnam https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hu%E1%BA%BF,+Thua+Thien+Hue,+Vietnam/@16.4533788,107.5070727,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x3141a115e1a7935f:0xbf3b50af70b5c7b7!8m2!3d16.4637117!4d107.5908628
2. Aska Kaneko (金子飛鳥) - 神話の時代～Twelve Myths (1995) Full Album https://youtu.be/kUOZYx7ElP4?t=2360
Aska Kaneko website https://www.askaviolin.com/
Twelve Myths track listing https://www.askaviolin.com/portfolio/1995/
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Fri, Oct 17, 2025
Watch the videos linked below before class time Friday, October 17, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, October 19, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-10-17.”
1. Ep 7. Haegeum | English Gugak Series | Korean Traditional Music 101 영어 국악 시리즈 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__v3-MNqI2o
2. Korean Traditional Music Group Ensemble SINAWI Performance https://youtu.be/kEYNR3R3rbw?t=952 Watch from 15:52-23:40
Haegeum (Korean traditional bowed instrument) https://www.britannica.com/art/haegum
Map of South Korea https://www.google.com/maps/place/South+Korea/@35.7981059,125.6245567,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x356455ebcb11ba9b:0x91249b00ba88db4b!8m2!3d35.907757!4d127.766922
2. Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet No. 1 (1984) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkNEI5Y9hIc
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Fri, Oct 24, 2025
Watch the video linked below before class time Friday, October 24, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, October 26, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-10-24.”
The work is based on J. D. Salinger's “The Catcher in the Rye” as part of a program addressing the emotional health of teenagers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye
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Fri, OCT 31, 2025
Watch the videos linked below before class time Friday, October 31, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, November 2, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-10-31.”
1. Taqasim Violin Akram Abdulfattah & the National Arab Orchestra https://youtu.be/jFHYoZ0EZ_E
Read about Taqasim https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taqsim
3. Kurdish Violin Musician (Halo Gharib) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZVIqVktmrA
Music from Kurdistan, a region shared by Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdistan
4. Daniel Hoffman – Original Klezmer Fiddle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVtIl3dqDbM
5. Taraf De Haidouks - Balkan Gypsy Folk Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT4IufMeyYA&t=2333s
Romani people https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romani_people
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Fri, Nov 7, 2025
Watch the videos linked below before class time Friday, November 7, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, November 9, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-11-07.”
Read about Joseph Joachim https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Joachim
3. Ravel Tzigane - Maxim Vengerov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4tkjHFf2QE
4. Bartók Field Recordings Romanian Folk Dances https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhCoDIiWtzw
Bartók made these recordings in Transylvania in 1910. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Transylvania,+Romania/@46.4084606,23.2705373,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x474ea6b445f0d63d:0x5d14bec93dcb981c!8m2!3d46.1840561!4d25.2223974
Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances for piano solo were based on these recordings. Zoltán Székely transcribed them for violin and piano.
5. Béla Bartók Romanian Folk Dances https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z50Ooqv1GFg
First movement of Bartók Viola Concerto, performed by Yo Yo Ma on an “alto violin” designed by Carleen Hutchins. This is an instrument tuned in viola range, with a 20-inch body, played like a cello.
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Fri, Nov 14, 2025
Watch the videos linked below before class time Friday, November 14, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, November 16, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-11-14.”
Read about Samuel Coleridge-Taylor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Coleridge-Taylor
2. Sergei Prokofiev - String Quartet No. 2 “Kabardinian” https://youtu.be/s4mNb5XkW70
Information on this quartet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_Quartet_No._2_(Prokofiev)
3. Steve Reich – Different Trains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcGqVynCPaw
Information on this quartet: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Different_Trains
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Fri, Nov 21, 2025
Watch the videos linked below before class time Friday, November 21, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, November 23, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-11-21.”
2. Liszt: Romance Oubliée | Aaron Conitz, viola https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1VXQ69zfLY
5. Paul Hindemith Kleine Sonate for Viola d’Amore and Piano https://youtu.be/xsndUEmQB1s
6. Xavier Foley – “The Prince” https://www.facebook.com/xavier.foley.104/videos/4184745068250476
8. Bowed Banjo, Fretted Cello – Chasing the Alligator https://youtu.be/DjdS6jgQFi4
9. Alexander Verster Six Vignettes for Double Bass https://youtu.be/q_tGHTkKhRM
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Fri, Dec 5, 2025
Watch the videos linked below before class time Friday, December 5, 2025. “Reaction paper” of 150-250 words is due Sunday, December 7, 2025. Name your file “Your Name - String Lit - 2025-12-05.”
1. Cork Gamelan Ensemble https://youtu.be/jGO2Jc4DZTI?t=496
Map of Cork (Corcaigh), Ireland https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cork,+Ireland/@51.8959843,-8.5330895,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4844900891beb961:0xa00c7a99731c5d0!8m2!3d51.8985143!4d-8.4756035
Read about gamelan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamelan
2. Rafaele Andrade playing at Knurl: a reprogrammable cello https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdNBCL-eheQ
Read about Knurl https://blog.bela.io/knurl-hybrid-cello/
Read about the SuperCollider system used with the Knurl https://supercollider.github.io/
Guide to 3D-printing instruments https://makerlab.illinois.edu/
Plans for printing 3D string instruments can be found on thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=violin&type=things&sort=relevant
3. Johnny Herno - Organic Trance https://www.facebook.com/TrancentralTV/videos/1165990953920409
4. Marsalis Violin Concerto https://youtu.be/lTsAkAHMvf4
5. Krakatoa, Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (Stacy Garrop) https://youtu.be/ukRrjbxL4s0
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VIII. Grading
There are 13 video assignments (one for each Friday). For each of these a reaction paper of approximately 150-200 words is due Sunday after the lecture, as described in sections IV and V above. Each reaction paper is worth 1/13 of your semester grade. A reaction paper submitted late will have 50% of its credit taken off. There are no “right” or “wrong” reaction papers. They just need to be well thought-out and indicate that you’ve watched the videos attentively and reflected on them. Grading system: 90-100% A; 80-89% B; 70-79% C; 60-69% D; below 60% F.
To obtain disability-related academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the course instructor and the Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) as soon as possible. To contact DRES, you may visit 1207 S. Oak St., Champaign, call 217-333-4603, e-mail disability@illinois.edu or go to the DRES website. ••• We recognize that each person expresses and experiences gender and sexuality in a variety of ways. For this reason, we aim to utilize language that is both non-sexist and gender inclusive. This attentiveness to identity creates a space where our transgender/non-binary students feel safe and honored and our cisgender students are provided with an awareness of the gender expansiveness that they may experience throughout their musical careers.