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Throughout history, music was a mysterious art that was believed to be one of God's greatest gifts to men. Music was known to enchant the human soul, control men's emotions and draw men's thoughts to virtue--or vice.
While modern historians would have us believe that human beings lived for millions of years in an animal-like state, sacred Scripture teaches that man never lived without the cultural dignity we might expect from the chief of God's creatures, made after His own likeness. As far back as Genesis 4, we find Jubal, who was the father of all musicians.
Profane history also contradicts the modernists, for there is no record of any civilization, even in the worst and most distant places among whom music was not a central feature of their culture.
This leads to the deep philosophical questions: Why is man musical? Where did this interest originate? The answers to these questions confirm all that Scripture teaches us, that inasmuch as musical harmony exists in the mind of God and fills all creation, man is drawn to it as by a magnet that he may fulfill his purpose as the chief of God's creatures and glorify God with the divine gift of Reason.
NAXOS MUSIC LIBRARY
 Enrollment in the CLAA's History of Music course requires that each family purchase a 1-year subscription ($19.95) to the Naxos Music Library. Student lessons in the course are linked to sample recordings in the Naxos library which not only allow your family to enjoy an amazing collection of history's greatest music (over 5,000 CDs), but also guides your family to enjoy related pieces and purchase works that will allow your family's music listening to have focus and meaning.
In addition to the Naxos recordings, the course also employs other freely available video and audio resources that provide a rich course in music history.
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COURSE INFO
As you would expect, the CLAA's Music history course is no mere historical survey of the forms and performers of music. This course is designed to help students understand the theological and philosophical foundations of music and trace their influence on the development of music through history.
We begin in the ancient middle east among the Sumerians, Egyptians and Hebrews where the principles of music were first discovered and masterfully demonstrated by King David. We continue through Greek history, where a rich music tradition was cultivated and personified in the legendary characters Orpheus and Pan. With the founding of the Christian Church, we trace the perfection of music under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as Christians work to capture the truth, goodness, beauty--and mystery--of divine truth in song.
Our course ends with a detailed study of the modern composers and the ideas that drove their music up to the present day.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
While Mr. Michael is opening the course, the bulk of the CLAA's History of Music course will be written by Jared Haselbarth, Assistant Academic Dean in the Religious Studies Dept. at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.
Mr. Haselbarth studied at Franciscan U. of Steubenville, earning a B.A. in Theology in 2001 and then earned his M.A. in Religious Studies at St. Charles Seminary in 2005.
Most importantly, Jared brings an understanding of the philosophical and theological roots of music that will enlighten our study of its history.
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