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 hourseach= totally 12 CFU), with examples ofdidactic resources for teaching listening.Furthermore to learn reading music notation, the studentsare invited to followthe propedeuticaltraining of 20hours, 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

Firstpart:The verbal and visual description of music: questions, methods and aims.Towards a theory of prohibited music.

Second part: L. van Beethoven, the three "Leonore".

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 has two main purposes. The first is to outline the musical theory of the Western world with particular reference to terminology and cultural and historical contexts. The second is to teach students how to listen, recognize and 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:

• 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.
• The verbal description of music: melody, rhythm, tonality, scales, polyphony, harmony, genres and forms.
• One example ofvisual description of Beethoven'smusicin theXX century:Sparky Schulz' Peanuts.
• Towards a theory of prohibited music: examples from the Antiquity to the Contemporary age.

Subjects of thesecond part:

• Historical introduction toBeethoven's three overtures "Leonore".
• How to listen to Leonore.
• Leonore's meaning.
• The different versions of the score (1805, 1806 e 1808)and itsproblems.

Times: II semester - First lesson:Wednesday, 7th March 2013- 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

Firstpart

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

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

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

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

Beeethoven, a cura di G. Pestelli, Bologna, il Mulino, 1988.

Beethoven e il suo tempo, a cura di C. Dalhaus, Torino, Edt, 1990.

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

For thefirst part of the course students must have an edition ofthe overtures "Leonoreby Ludwig van Beethoven.

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 bibliographyof the First partand 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

Oral exam.

Agenda of exams in progress.

Palazzo Corradini
Tel. 0544 936900

Teaching tools

Audiovisuals, pc, films and stereo.

Links to further information

http://www.sjsu.edu/beethoven

Office hours

See the website of Donatella Restani