1940s > Music Humanities
Columbia College Education: The Plan of the First Two Years, 1941
Through a process of constant experiment and revision what began as a single course had become, by 1941, an integrated program of general education designed to cultivate the informed citizen and "whole" person. Under the "Two Year Plan" first-years attended CC-A and Humanities A one hour a day, four days a week; sophomores attended CC-B throughout the year and had the option of continuing into Humanities B1 (or "Music Humanities") in the fall and Humanities B2 ("Art Humanities") in the spring. Since 1934, Columbia students also had to complete two year-long science courses. Science A & B, Dean Hawkes emphasized, presented research methods, theories and findings as CC and Lit Hum presented philosophical and literary texts, "i.e., for the purpose of liberal arts education" and not as an introduction to specialized scholarship.
Douglas Moore and Music Humanities
Columbia music professor and acclaimed composer Douglas Moore took a leading role in the design of Music Humanities in the 1940s. In his 1940 talk "What Music Can Do," Moore disabuses any in his audience who may have questioned the wartime contributions of the nation's music makers.
"Music, free music, which lifts up our spirits and brings joy to our hearts is part of our national strength and we musicians must keep it alive and serviceable to our countrymen. Let us hear often and rejoice in Beethoven's song of universal brotherhood. This belongs to free humanity, not to Hitler's Germany. … For music is the greatest propaganda of all, but over and above this its message is timeless and true. It speaks of courage and strength of will and the power to inspire these. But most precious of all, it is addressed to the elevation — the exhilaration — of the human spirit in war and in peace."
CUCR and Humanities B
Launched in 1941, the radio station CUCR (soon to be WKCR) was quickly broadcasting nearly eight hours a day of original programming, including radio plays and lectures from such CC and Humanities A stars as Irwin Edman, Dwight Miner and Lionel Trilling. The station was even more integral to Humanities B1, however, broadcasting assigned musical selections three times a week and conducting midterm and finals review sessions.
Click on this link to hear selections from a 1960s WKCR Humanities B1 review session
