96548 - History of Music Composition Techniques (1) (Lm)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will have acquired the analytical tools useful to understand the interweaving of relationships that links a theory of musical composition (explicitly formulated or implicit in the works) to concrete compositional procedures. Relief is given not only to the interweaving of theories of composition and the musical texts that can be referred to it, but also to the aspects that this interweaving has within a history of ideas. The grammatical aspects addressed will be intended to sharpen the ability to recognize and critically evaluate compositional structures, in order to increase the knowledge of the historical evolution of musical styles.

Course contents

The analysis of syntax and form in Johann Sebastian Bach's keyboard music

Since the musical discourse has a grammar, it is therefore provided with specific morphosyntactic and rhetoric functions. The course will investigate these functions in the sound architectures of Bach's music, with particular attention to the syntactic models inherited and handed down by him, to their contrapuntal and harmonic substance, and to their rhetorical dimension.

Readings/Bibliography

- Mastropasqua, Mauro, Tipi e categorie logiche della sintassi e della forma musicale, "Il Saggiatore musicale", 31, n. 2, 2024, pp. 255-287;

- capp. 1-4 (pp. 13-86) di Mastropasqua, Mauro, Logica musicale. Storia di un'idea, Bononia University Press, Bologna 2011;

- cap. 3 (pp. 31-90) di Stauffer, Georg B., The organ preludes of Johann Sebastian Bach, UMI research press, Ann Arbor 1980.

Those who have not taken the exam of Elementi di armonia e contrappunto of the Dams course in this University must apply (see the following Assessment methods) the analytical criteria contained in chapters 1, 3 and in the Glossary of: Mastropasqua Mauro, Il dinamismo armonico e il suo stadio di sviluppo in J. S. Bach [available at the Dipartimento delle Arti library].

Assessment methods

Please note, those who have already taken any kinf of exam with the teacher must agree on a different program by taking contact with him (mauro.mastropasqua@unibo.it).

(1) Written test. Analysis of syntactic and formal functions (according to the methodology shown at lesson), of the main harmonic articulations and of the tonal plan of a piece assigned by the teacher the same day of the exam. Allowed time for the written test: 3 hours.

(2) Oral test. Discussion of the analysis above mentioned; questions about the contents of the essays in bibliography (on both the texts A and B).

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Mauro Mastropasqua