Syllabus

INQ 100
Mysticism in Music and Literature
MW 8:30-9:40 am / F 8:00-9:10 am
Hvidsten 158

Instructor
Greg Hamilton, Associate Professor of Music
Office phone: 299-4863
Office room: 124 Hvidsten
Cell phone: 701-373-5406
E-mail: ghamilto@cord.edu

Texts and Materials

There is no required text for this class that you are required to purchase. Instead, all reading
assignments will be found online on the Concordia College library website (Ebrary), on reserve
in the library (see last page of syllabus for a listing) or via handouts given in class.

The online reading can be found in the Hamilton Ebrary Bookshelf on our library page for this
Inquiry 100 course:
http://site.ebrary.com/lib/cord/viewFolder.action?sharedKey=DRQDLUTSFVBSZJQPTZAEHW
RFSYUVTEIC&userName=cord_ghamilto

The reserve books are stored behind the circulation desk (check-out counter) in the library.

There will also be listening assignments for this course. All music videos/recordings can be
found on the Mysticism in Music YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpL9NVRwoSW2QKhDkmactIhFMmpvDEzRd

This course is focused on research. Laura Probst is our library liaison and created this page:
https://inq100hamilton.wordpress.com/

Course Description
This is not a survey course where we thoroughly cover a topic. Mysticism is a big subject
covering many centuries and many cultures, both religious and non-religious. Therefore, we will
select a few authors and composers in order to initiate class discussion on a deeper level. The
literature we study will largely be primary sources, written by the mystics themselves. Secondary
sources will be used in circumstances where it is necessary to have a more objective view of a
subject or author. All music is arguably mystical. We will therefore only focus on those musical
works that focus on the search for the Absolute, such as resurrection and redemption (Mahler
Symphony No 2), visions of God (Hildegard O Ignus Spiritus), and characters that represent
qualities of pure innocence and truth (Wagners Parsifal) as well as representing parts of the
Bible (The Protecting Veil and Rosary Sonatas) and music for the church (Rachmaninoff
Vespers). All the readings and listenings will have one thing in common: the search for a deeper
meaning in life to the point of being willing to give up significant aspects of normal life in order
to achieve an enlightened awareness of the Infinite.
Course Objectives
Inquiry Seminars provide an introduction into the life of academic scholarship. This is embodied
in the Goals for Liberal Learning:

Instill a love for learning

Develop foundational skills and transferable intellectual capacities
Develop an understanding of disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and intercultural
perspectives and their connections
Cultivate an examined cultural, ethical, physical, and spiritual self-understanding
Encourage responsible participation in the world

The following course objectives attempt to apply the Goals for Liberal Learning:

Critical reading of pertinent sources on mysticism

Appreciation of some of the masterworks in classical music
Identify cultural values and human virtues in these texts and music
Examine and compare those values and virtues with modern values and virtues
Formulate, articulate, and defend your observations, opinions, and convictions about those
values and virtues in class discussions, oral presentations, and writing

Course Policies
1. Attendanceacute illness, dire family emergency, or officially sanctioned college functions
are the only acceptable reasons for missing class. Attendance will influence your participation
grade, though being present in body only does not constitute participationyou need to
contribute to the class discussion as well. Please send me an email or leave a voice mail message
ahead of time if you need to miss class.

2. Make-up workI do not accept make-up or late work as the due dates for each assignment are
clearly listed in this syllabus. If you know you will be absent, turn the work in early or arrange to
have it to me when it is due. If there are strong enough extenuating circumstances to warrant the
acceptance of late work, I reserve the right to apply a reduction of points. All work is to be
handed in either as hard copies (single-sided only) at the beginning of class (no exceptions), or
via email attachment before the start of class. All work turned in after these deadlines is
considered late and will not be given credit.

3. Academic honesty and integrityPlagiarism, or any other form of cheating, will result in a
zero for the work in question and the possibility of an F in the course. For a full statement of the
Academic Integrity Policies that apply to this and all Concordia courses, see the on-line student
handbook: https://www.concordiacollege.edu/handbooks/student-handbook/academic-policies/
For a statement of Concordias guiding commitments in regards to academic integrity, see page
23 of the 2014-15 catalog: https://issuu.com/cordmn/docs/academiccatalog14-15

5. Cell phones and laptops Turn all cell phones off and put them away. Laptops may be used
for note-taking only.

6. Drinks and food (with the exception of a water bottle) are not permitted in the classroom. As
this class meets early in the morning, it is tempting to bring in food Please dont!
Course Requirements
Class Discussion
Read the assigned text and listen to the assigned music by the date on the schedule. We will
discuss the assigned text in class, so it is important for you to think and reflect on each reading
assignment. In addition, we will have periodic short exams (quizzes) on the reading assignments.
One important fact to keep in mind: you do not need to be able to read music or have a
background in classical music to take this class.

Writing

You will write four essays and a final research paper that is 6-8 pages in length:
These papers will demonstrate a well-reasoned, well-crafted, and well-written
discussion on a chosen topic.
The final research paper will include a Works Cited page
All written work, unless otherwise noted, should be typed in a 12 pt easily readable font
(such as Times New Roman, Georgia, or Garamond), double-spaced, and follow the style
requirements covered in class
See separate handout on additional requirements, to be handed out later

Grading

A = 93100 A- = 8992
B+ = 8688 B = 8385 B- = 7982
C+ = 7678 C = 7375 C- = 6972
D+ = 6668 D = 6365 D- = 5962
F = 59 and below

Percentages of course grade are as follows:

Class participation & discussion = 25%
Quizzes = 25%
Essays = 25%
Research Paper = 25%

Points assigned (400 total pts):

Class participation = 100 pts
Quizzes* (5 at 20 pts each) = 100 pts
Essays (4 at 25 pts each) = 100 pts
Final Research Paper = 100 pts
Annotated bibliography (20 pts)
Outline (15 pts)
Final paper (65 pts)

* Please note: A total of 6 quizzes on the reading material will be given and the lowest two
grades will be dropped. Five listening quizzes (5 pts each) will be given and the lowest dropped.

Extra credit:
There are 6 FYT (First-Year Transition) classes that meet on select Fridays during the
semester. If you attend all 6 meetings, I will increase your grade by one level. For instance, if you
earn an A- as a final grade and have attended all 6 FYT classes, your grade will increase to an A.
Course Schedule
Please note:
Reading assignments are to be read by the day on which they appear
Due dates for essays are indicated in red
Due dates for listening assignments are indicated in blue
Due dates for the final research paper are indicated in green
All listening assignments are found on the YouTube channel playlist for this class:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpL9NVRwoSW2QKhDkmactIhFMmpvDEzRd

Week of January 9 What is Mysticism?

Monday Introduction to class and discussion of syllabus
Wednesday Introduction + pgs. 1-15 of Horne Beyond Mysticism (Ebrary)
Friday Chapter 3 (pp. 41-63) of Horne Beyond Mysticism

Week of January 16 Silence Might Be the Most Eloquent of All

Monday Chapter 1 (pp. 1-21) of Gann No Such Thing as Silence (Ebrary)
Wednesday Poems of Verlaine and Mallarm (handouts)
Friday Essay #1 due

Week of January 23 The Minimalists: Henryk Gorecki / Arvo Prt

Monday Mystical Sharing
Wednesday Library Launch (MEET IN LIBRARY!)
Friday Gorecki Symphony No 3 Mvt 2 / Prt Lamentate and Spiegel

Week of January 30 The Wandering Mystic: Zarathustra

Monday Quiz on Part I (pp. 5-60) Nietzsche Thus Sprach Zarathustra (Ebrary)
Wednesday Quiz on Part IV (pgs 181-256) of Nietzsche Thus Sprach Zarathustra
Friday Essay #2 due Mahler Ich bin der Welt / Strauss Morgen and Im Abendrot

Week of February 6 German Medieval Catholicism

Monday Quiz on Hildegard of Bingen Scivias Book 1 pp 59-71 pp 139-143 (on reserve)
Wednesday Meister Eckhart Sermons (handout)
Friday Quiz on Suso The Exemplar: p xv and pp 3-26 (on reserve) and Suso The Life of
the Servant pgs 5769 (Ebrary)

Week of February 13 Women Mystics

Monday Essay #3 due Watching Joan of Arc movie in class
Wednesday Teresa of Avila (handout)
Friday Julian of Norwich Revelation of Divine Love (on reserve)

Week of February 20
Monday Career Center visit
Wednesday NO CLASS
Friday NO CLASS

SPRING BREAK (February 25-March 5)

Week of March 6 The Wandering Mystic II: Siddhartha
Monday Presentation of final paper topic Writing Center presentation
Wednesday Quiz on Hesse Siddhartha (on reserve)
Friday Essay #4 (in class) Siddhartha Gautama Sermon of Benares (handout)

Week of March 13 Research Week

Monday Submit a proposal for your final paper (individual meetings in my office)
Wednesday Library Research to find source material (meet in library instruction lab)
Friday Work on annotated bibliography (meet in library instruction lab)

Week of March 20 Buddhism

Monday Quiz Suzuki Mysticism: Christian and Buddhist Chapter 2 pgs 31-66 (Ebrary)
Annotated bibliography due
Wednesday Nanamoli, Teachings of the Buddha (Ebrary) pgs 19-35 (Each student picks
one sutra found on pgs 83-1151 and briefly describes it to the class)
Friday Hovhaness Gamelan in Sosi Style and Symphony No 20

Week of March 27 Russian and Eastern Orthodox Church

Monday Anthony Bloom Living Prayer (handout) / Lecture (handout)
Wednesday Tavener The Protecting Veil
Friday Rachmaninoff Vespers / Hovhaness Prayer of St Gregory

Week of April 3 Gustav Mahler and Richard Wagner

Monday Mahler Symphony No 2 Mvt 4 (43:40 until 50:20)
Wednesday NO CLASS (Celebration of Student Scholarship Day)
Friday Career Center visit (rsum writing)

Week of April 10 Contemporary Mystics and Meditation

Monday Quiz on Studstill Unity of Mystical Traditions (Ebrary):
Chapter 4: 125-130 (Intro), 146-151 (Doctrine), and 160-171 (Path & Practices)
Chapter 5: 173-184 (Intro / Historical Emerg.) and 206-223 (Mystical Practice)
Wednesday Outline of your final research paper due
Friday NO CLASS (Easter break)

Week of April 17
Monday NO CLASS (Easter break)
Wednesday Yoga and Meditation demonstration (location TBA)
Friday Class meets in library today (meet in the reference room)

Week of April 24
Monday Individual meetings in my office
Wednesday Individual meetings in my office
Friday NO CLASS

Week of May 1
Monday NO CLASS (writing paper)
Wednesday FINAL RESEARCH PAPER DUE NO LATER THAN NOON PUT A
HARD COPY INTO MY MAILBOX IN THE MUSIC OFFICE IN HVIDSTEN
HALL OF MUSIC
 Books on Reserve
Concordia College Library
(Ask for them at Circulation Desk)

Hildegard of Bingen Scivias

BV 5080. H5

Henry Suso The Exemplar

BV5080 .S8

Julian of Norwich Revelation of Divine Love

BV4831 .J813 1994

Hermann Hesse Siddhartha

PT2617.E85 S513 2003

Other Sources of Interest

Concordia College Library

Julian of Norwich Showings

BV4831 .J8 1978

Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) Essential Writings or other collections

BV5080 .E3213
BV5080 .E3213 1996
B765.E34 S3813 1978

T. W. Rhys Davids, Hermann Oldenberg Vinaya Texts

BL1411.V5 E5 v.3
BL1411.V5 E5 v.2
BL1411.V5 E5 v.1

Evelyn Underhill Mysticism (1911)

BV5081 .U55

Underhill Mystics of the Church

BV5075 .U53 1988