本課程探討音樂美學的定義和其與西方古典音樂傳統的關係。我們縱觀音樂美學的歷史、文化背景，及主要藝術家、作曲家、文人、哲學家。本課程分為三部份。我們首先細讀19世紀著名樂評Hanslick 的著作《論音樂的美》，一本常被誤解的、音樂美學史上的重要著作。我們接著討論浪漫主義、浪漫精神與音樂美學的關聯；讀本包括Schumann 及多位當代文人（如Jean Paul, ETA Hofmann）的作品。本課程結束於現代音樂：討論哲學家Adorno，與20世紀作曲家（如Debussy, Stravinsky）如何將現代音樂中前衛的元素與音樂美學的轉變相連結。

This course explores the definition of musical aesthetics and its relationship to the Western classical music tradition. We look at the history and cultural background of music aesthetics, as well as major artists, composers, literati, and philosophers. This course is divided into three parts. We first carefully read the book "On the Beauty of Music" by the famous music critic Hanslick in the 19th century, an important work in the history of music aesthetics that is often misunderstood. We then discuss the relationship between romanticism, romantic spirit and musical aesthetics; the readings include the works of Schumann and many contemporary literati (such as Jean Paul, ETA Hofmann). The course concludes with Modern Music: a discussion of how the philosopher Adorno and 20th-century composers (such as Debussy and Stravinsky) connected avant-garde elements in modern music with changes in musical aesthetics.

Hanslick, Eduard. The Beautiful in Music. Trans. Gustav Cohen. New York: Da Capo Press, 1974.
(中譯本Chinese translation) Hanslick, Eduard. 《論音樂美—音樂美學的修改芻議Vom musikalischen-Schönen》，陳慧姍譯，台北：世界文物，1997 。

Hanslick, Eduard. The Beautiful in Music. Trans. Gustav Cohen. New York: Da Capo Press, 1974.
(Chinese translation) Hanslick, Eduard. "On Musical Beauty - A Brief Discussion on the Revision of Musical Aesthetics Vom musikalischen-Schönen", translated by Chen Huishan, Taipei: World Cultural Heritage, 1997.