Module MUSI1261: Historical Studies 1

Department: Music

MUSI1261: Historical Studies 1

Prerequisites

• A-Level Music or equivalent.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This course introduces students to historical study of the Western art music tradition, covering music from the baroque to late classical periods. A number of representative musical works from the period are explored: students deepen their knowledge of those works and the contexts of their composition and reception, while also acquiring skills foundational to the practice of historical musicology. Students gain experience in the critical study both of music and of academic writing about music, and develop an understanding of conventions for academic writing and presentation. Another basic aim of the course is the development of foundational research skills generic to musicological research building on the skills introduced through the induction process (in particular, compiling a bibliography, reviewing literature, referencing, and making an oral presentation). The skills thus acquired complement those studied as part of Module MUSI1251 Introduction to Ethnomusicology.

Content

• This course will introduce students to important musical and cultural developments through representative musical works of the period. Important subsidiary themes will include the emergence and development of different musical genres (such as opera, the symphony and the concerto), as well as the dominant stylistic trends that are manifest. A repertory of key works from the period is studied, typically between five and seven, chosen specifically to develop an informed perspective on the key issues arising in this context. Lectures introduce the works both musically and contextually, while seminars provide an opportunity for students to discuss both the music and associated writings critically. Students are expected to become familiar with the music through repeated listening, while class work with musical texts complements the approach taken in MUSI1211 Musical Techniques.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be expected to acquire knowledge of mainstream repertoire, and be aware of key musical and cultural trends during this period.

• This module aims to develop training in basic research and writing skills which will be foundational for study at a more advanced level. Students will also learn to engage with historical and musical issues from a variety of intellectual standpoints, including the philosophical, political, cultural and analytical.

• The ability to identify and conceptualize issues; the ability to situate ideas in a context and to engage in critically informed argument; the ability to use appropriate analytical skills.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures.
• Seminars, with scope for student formative class presentations.
• Tutorials
• Directed reading
• Independent study of set texts and scores.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Students will be asked to prepare short oral and written presentations on set works and/or relevant historical topics and will receive feedback at tutorials. Formative exercises will embed key competencies and develop students' skills in communicating their ideas in oral and written presentations.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University