13055 - History of Medieval and Renaissance Music

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to give students a basic understanding of the interaction between the historical development of music and the different social and cultural contexts in Europe in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Students are encouraged to develop the ability to interpret both direct and indirect examples of musical activity in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and place them in their historical context.

Course contents

Module 1:

An examination of the different understandings of the nature of music and the historical development of musical language and technique in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance based on a reading of contemporary material (theoretical treatises, reports, chronicles and letters written by people in the world of music).

Module 2:

Origin, contents and historical position of Johannes Tinctoris' treatises Proportionale musices and Liber de arte contrapuncti, with particular attention to the problems of their manuscript tradition and the views of the author in respect of contemporary composers.

N.B.: The programmes and examinations of 12114 - History of Medieval and Renaissance Music (1) and of 27112 - Music History I: Middle Ages and Renaissance (1) are referred only to the Module 1; The programme and examination of 12115 - History of Medieval and Renaissance Music (2) are referred only to the Module 2.

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1:

– G. Cattin, La monodia nel Medioevo, Torino, EDT, 1991;

– F.A. Gallo, La polifonia nel Medioevo, Torino, EDT, 1991;

– C. Gallico, L'età dell'Umanesimo e del Rinascimento, Torino, EDT,1991.

Module 2:

- Johannes Tinctoris, Proportionale musices - Liber de arte contrapuncti, Testo latino e italiano. Introduzione, traduzione e commento a cura di Gianluca D'Agostino, Firenze, Edizioni del Galluzzo, 2008

N.B.: The programmes and examinations of 12114 - History of Medieval and Renaissance Music (1) and of 27112 - Music History I: Middle Ages and Renaissance (1) are referred only to the Module 1; The programme and examination of 12115 - History of Medieval and Renaissance Music (2) are referred only to the Module 2.

Teaching methods

Module 1:

Guided reading of texts about the life and work of musicians or the theory and practice of music in specific social contexts in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. These texts (most of them taken from the appendices in the text books) will be read in their Italian translation and illustrated with reference to musical theory and technique by guided listening to pieces of contemporary music.

Module 2:

Guided reading of texts about the life and of passages from Johannes Tinctoris' works, illustrated with reference to contemporary thought and artistic culture and specific social context which he worked in.

N.B.: The programmes and examinations of 12114 - History of Medieval and Renaissance Music (1) and of 27112 - Music History I: Middle Ages and Renaissance (1) are referred only to the Module 1;  The programme and examination of 12115 - History of Medieval and Renaissance Music (2) are referred only to the Module 2.

Assessment methods

Oral examination.

N.B.: Students can sit the 12115 - History of Medieval and Renaissance Music (2) examination only if they have already passed the 12144 - History of Medieval and Renaissance Music (1) examination.

Teaching tools

For "Tips for preparing for the exam" please visit: www.muspe.unibo.it/corso/corsi/smmr/index.htm

Links to further information

http://www.muspe.unibo.it/corso/corsi/smmr/index.htm

Office hours

See the website of Cesarino Ruini