23925 - History of Greek Music (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student should know in detail Greek music, mainly in its literary and historical aspects, without neglecting the theoretical referents and technical data of early music.

Course contents

a) De musica by Pseudo-Plutarchus

b) History of ancient Greek Music and Greek Musical theory

Lectures Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9-11 in Aula XII, since 9.2.2010 until 12.03.2010.

Readings/Bibliography

a) Reading of the whole Pseudo-Plutarchian treatise De musica is required. The reference critical text is K. ZIEGLER, Plutarchi Moralia, VI/3, De musica, Lipsiae, Tebuner, 1963 (pp. 1-48). For translation and commentary see A. BARKER, Greek Musical Writings. I: The Musician and his Art, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1984 (pp. 205-257); or R. BALLERIO (cur.), Plutarco. La musica, saggio introduttivo di G. COMOTTI, Milano, BUR, 2000; or G. PISANI - L. CITELLI, Plutarco. Moralia II. L'educazione dei ragazzi, Pordenone, Biblioteca dell'Immagine, 1990 (pp. 297-442). Further recommended readings are: F. LASSERRE, Plutarque. De la musique, Texte, traduction, commentaire, précédés d'une étude sur l'éducation musicale dans la Grèce antique, Olten-Lausanne, Urs Graf-Verlag, 1954; A. MERIANI, Sulla musica greca antica. Studi e ricerche, Napoli, Alfredo Guida Editore, 2003 (ch. II).

b) I. For the history of ancient Greek Music and for fundamental knowledges concerning harmonics, rhythmics and musical semiography reading of one of the following hndbooks is required: G. COMOTTI, La musica nella cultura greca e romana, Torino, EDT, 1991; or M.L.WEST, Ancient Greek Music, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1992. For the deepening of ancient Greek organology the student can (optionally) read A. DI GIGLIO, Strumenti delle Muse. Lineamenti di organologia greca, Bari, Levante, 2000. II. The texts with musical score which will be discussed during the lectures are to be found in E. PÖHLMANN-M.L. WEST, Documents of Ancient Greek Music: The Extant Melodies and Fragments, ed. and transcribed with Commentary, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 2001.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures given by the teacher and by dr. M. Ercoles. During the second part of the course the sessions will have a seminar-like form.

Assessment methods

A first important assessment will be carried out during the seminars, where the students will be able auto-assess their learning.
The viva voce examination will consist of a conversation in which the teachers, through a series of questions, will test the theoretical knowledge and the theoretical-practical methodologies as explained in the lectures.

Teaching tools

PC, video projector, photocopied hand-outs.

Office hours

See the website of Renzo Tosi