Charles McGuire
A professor of Musicology, Charles McGuire, affectionately known as "C. McG.", "Chucky McG.", or just "Chucky", teaches several music history courses. He frequently teaches 101, the general intro/survey course, and has previously taught the twentieth century course. His musical loves include Edward Elgar, a British composer who was very active c. 1880–1915, the Beatles, and film music. He is interested to some extent in musical meaning (semiotics of music), and to a greater extent in musical narratives (narratives constructed through, within, or with the assistance of music). Chucky teaches a fairly popular class on Music and Narrative.
- B.A. Oberlin College, 1992
- B.M. Oberlin Conservatory of Music, 1992
- M.A. Harvard University, 1995
- Ph.D. Harvard University, 1998
[edit] Opinions
His musical tastes run on the eclectic side for the Con, but many composition students will notice that his 20th century tastes are more conservative than those espoused by Oberlin's Composition faculty. Personally, I enjoyed having a different perspective on 20th century music, although I'm not sure i ended up agreeing with his asthetic. --jkimmel 01:44, 3 March 2006 (EST)
[edit] Quotes
"Of course, Wagner did have great confidence in his own ability as a genius."
on Elgar's Nimrod Variations: "Full of brass and glory, the hero Elgar steps out."
"What a clever boy, Ludwig."
"I will now retire the phrase, 'Duckies and bunnies', because none of you complained about it on your midterm assessment."
"You can't make concrete music unless you bleed; at least, that's what I think."
"Sometimes technology does suck large, large rocks."
"Beethoven: strange guy. Very strange guy."
"The tenor's the one who just kind of sits there, not being lustful at all."
"So we're modulating like, everything, like all get out here."
"You guys are either easily impressed or even more cynical and sarcastic than I am."
"...good for use at cocktail parties when you get into discussions about music theory, which doesn't happen until you are very drunk, indeed."
"The 20th century's a big, fun mess."
"Wow, something we're talking about in class today is actually part of the aesthetic debate of the outside world!"
regarding song lyrics in general: "They're either about love, desire, or codependent relationships."
regarding Enigma's "Mea Culpa": "I'd read you the lyrics, but I'd blush too much."
"Getting married, having kids, driving a station wagon down the road...that's what Palestrina's all about."
"Behind every composer is a door. All you have to do is open it. Thank you very much."
