03507 - Musical theory

Learning outcomes

This course focuses on the fundamental concepts of musical theory in the Western world, and the written and artistic music tradition from 17th to 20 th century in particular. Students are taught the principle elements of the musical language and learn to identify them by guided listenings.

Course contents

The course is divided in two parts (30 hours each = totally 12 CFU), with examples of didactic resources for teaching listening. Furthermore to learn reading music notation, the students are invited to follow the propedeutical training of 20 hours, called "Alfabetizzazione musicale". Foreign students are required to ask for the program at least three months before the exams, writing to donatella.restani@unibo.it

The course is open to students from all the courses. Any students wishing to be introduced to musical language is very welcome, regardless of their previous musical experience.

The course will emphasize the cultural, social and ethic functions of music in any society.

The course will outline the musical theory of the Western world with particular reference to terminology and cultural and historical contexts. During the lessons students will be guided  to listen, to recognize and to describe in an appropriate language a musical composition from artistic repertory. Students will be introduced to the main points of musical language - melody, rhythm, scales, polyphony, harmony, genres and forms. Through guided listening will be introduced to European artistic repertory from 17th to 20 th century.

Subjects of the first part:

Introduction to the study of music as culture.

Music cultural heritage: knowledge, transmission, conservation and appreciation.

• Musical knowledge: its history and contemporary meaning.
• Pluralism in music and how we think music.
• Boethius: the three kinds of music, the quadrivium and the musician.
• Some historical hints about musical theory form Middle Age to Modern Age.

Music's text: how to read music partiture. An introduction.

• How to recognize and to describe the main structures: intervals, scales, monody and polyphony, melody, tonality, rhythm, genres and forms.
• The verbal and visual description of  music: questions, methods and aims.

Subjects of the second part:

Introduction to the listening and to the study of  L. van Beethoven, Coriolanus.

• The historical context of composition.
• Beethoven as a reader of ancient Greek texts: Homer's and Plutarch's heroes.
• Beethoven's documents about Coriolanus: correspndance, notes, musical sketches and drafts.
• How to listen to Coriolanus. Coriolanus' meaning.
• Introduction to read Coriolanus' partiture.
• Some relevant musicological interpretations.

One example of visual description of Beethoven's music in the XX century: Sparky Schulz' Peanuts.

Times: II semester - First lesson: Wednesday, 19th February  2014-

Timetable: Monday, 13-15; Tuesday, 12-14; Wednesday, 11-13.

Lessons will be held at Facoltà di Conservazione dei Beni culturali, palazzo Corradini, via Mariani, 5 - Room 2 - Ravenna,  – tel.: 0544 936911 http://www.cbc.unibo.it/Beni+Culturali/default.htm

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

Alfabetizzazione musicale

Cécile Peyrot, La lettura applicata al repertorio musicale, voll.1-2, Progetti Sonori, 2007-2008.
It's strong recommended the study of the first volume to any student meets music for the first time.

First part

F.A. Gallo, Premessa a Per una storia dei popoli senza note, a cura di P. Dessì, Bologna, Clueb, 2010, pp. 7-10.

N. Cook, Musica. Una breve introduzione, trad. it., Torino, EdT, 2005.

J.J. Nattiez, Pluralità e diversità del sapere musicale, in Enciclopedia della musica, II: Il sapere musicale, a cura di M. Bent, Torino, Einaudi, 2002, pp. xxiii-xlix.

D. Restani, Le radici antropologiche dell'estetica boeziana: anima humana e musica humana, in Le fonti dell'estetica musicale. Nuove prospettive storiche, Atti del convegno (Venezia, 26-28 ottobre 2006),  a cura di M. Semi, «Musica e Storia», XV, 2007, pp. 243-258.

G. Rico, La formazione musicale nell'ambito del Quadrivium, in Enciclopedia della musica, IV: Storia della musica europea, a cura di M. Bent, Torino, Einaudi, 2004, pp. 118-129.

H. Powers, La melodia, in Enciclopedia della musica, II: Il sapere musicale, cit., pp. 25-44.

K. Agawu, Il ritmo, in Enciclopedia della musica, II: Il sapere musicale, cit., pp. 45-71.

N. Meeùs, Scale, polifonia, armonia, in Enciclopedia della musica, II: Il sapere musicale, cit., pp. 72-88.

N. Cook, Forma e sintassi, in Enciclopedia della musica, II: Il sapere musicale, cit., pp. 117-142.

Second part

For the second part of the course students must have an edition of the overture Coriolanus by Ludwig van Beethoven.

 S. Burnham, Il fattore Beethoven, in Enciclopedia della musica, IV: Storia della musica europea, cit., pp. 765-781.

L. Lockwood, Beethoven: the Music and the Life, New York, Norton, 2003.

G. Pestelli, L'età di Mozart e di Beethoven, Storia della musica, vol. 6, Torino, EdT, 1991: Beethoven's Chapter.

Beethoven e il suo tempo, ed. by C. Dalhaus, Torino, Edt, 1990.

Beethoven, ed. by di G. Pestelli, Bologna, il Mulino, 1988.

L. Magnani, Beethoven lettore d'Omero, Torino, Einaudi, 1984.

Further suggested listenings and bibliography will be given during the course.

Students who cannot attend the lessons must contact the teacher for further listenings and bibliography: anyway they are requested to study all the bibliography of the First part and two texts of the Second part.

Suggested manuals:

F. Tammaro, Con il senso e con la ragione. La teoria musicale prima della tonalità, Torino, il Capitello, 2003.

L. Azzaroni, Canone infinito. Lineamenti di teoria della musica, Bologna, Clueb, 2001 (seconda ed.).

Teaching methods

Audiovisuals, pc, films and listening will be used during the lessons. Individual tutoring may be provided.

Assessment methods

The examination will be oral. Both the first and the second part will be considered during the exam. The students which attended the lessons are welcome to introduce their individual research. First, the examination will consider the knowledge of the principal musical structures: monody and polyphony, intervals and chords, melody, rhythm, harmony, instruments and musical genres. Secondly, the student will demonstrate his degree in the description of a musical scores. At last, it will be considered the knowledge coming from the active and critical listening to music.

Teaching tools

Audiovisuals, pc, films and stereo.

Links to further information

http://oyc.yale.edu/music/musi-112; www.radio3.rai.it/dl/radio3/programmi/PublishingBlock-4e02a2ec-404

Office hours

See the website of Donatella Restani