27112 - History of Music I: Middle Ages and Renaissance (1)

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 during 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

A critical 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).

Readings/Bibliography

- Musica e società, vol. 1: Dall'Alto Medievo al 1640, a cura di P. Fabbri e M. C. Bertieri, Milano, McGraw-Hill, 2012

- Two items to choose from: Atlante storico della musica nel Medioevo, ed. by V. Minazzi & C. Ruini, Milano, Jaca Book, 2011.

Students are required to supplement their preparation by reading one of the following texts:

- D. Hiley, Gregorian chant, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2009;

- A.M. Busse Berger, Medieval Music and the Art of Memory, Berkeley, University of California Press, 2005;

- Guido d'Arezzo, Le opere, Introduzione, traduzione e commento a cura di A. Rusconi, Firenze, Edizioni del Galluzzo, 2005;

- F.A. Gallo, Trascrizione di Machaut. Remede de Fortune, Ecu bleu, Remede d'Amour, Ravenna, Longo, 1999;

- F.A. Gallo, Musica nel castello. Trovatori, libri, oratori nelle corti italiane dal XIII al XV secolo, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1992;

- F.A. Gallo, Musica e storia tra Medio Evo e Età moderna, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1986;

- J.A. Owens, Composers at Work: The Craft of Musical C omposition, 1450-1600, New York - Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1997;

- D. Leech-Wilkinson, The Modern Invention of Medieval Music: Scholarship, Ideology, Performance, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2002;

- A. Fiori, Francesco Landini, Palermo, L'Epos, 2004;

- D. Fallows, Dufay, New York, Vintage books, 1988;.

- C. Fiore, Josquin des Prez, Palermo, L'Epos, 2003;

- M. Della Sciucca, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Palermo, L'Epos, 2009;

- P. Misuraca, Carlo Gesualdo Principe di Venosa, Palermo, L'Epos, 2000;

- P. Fabbri, Il madrigale tra Cinque e Seicento, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1988.

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Teaching methods

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 introduction of the various chapters of the text book) will be read in their Italian translation and illustrated with reference to musical theory and technique by guided listening to pieces of contemporary music.

Assessment methods

Oral examination. During the oral examination the student will be asked to comment on the texts and material studied during the course and his/her methodological and critical skills will be assessed. Particular importance will be given to the student's understanding of the course material, starting from the texts about the life and work of the musicians or concerning the the theory and practice of music inthe Middle Age. A mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, a limited analytical ability and/or a correct but not always appropriate choice of language will lead to a fairly good evaluation;  an acceptable knowledge of the exam syllabus though there may be gaps in the student's understanding of the subject and/or inappropriate language will lead to a pass mark. Gaps in the student's understanding of the subject, inappropriate language and lack of familiarity with the bibliography presented during the course will inevitably lead to a negative assessment.

Teaching tools

Students are requested to attend, either as an integrative seminar, or as a supplementary teaching activity included in the computation of credits relating to the "Music Seminar", the seminar "Guida all'ascolto della musica medievale".  Implementation and frequency procedures will be published as soon as available.

Office hours

See the website of Cesarino Ruini