06938 - History of Modern Music

Learning outcomes

The course provides an overview of musical production from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century, focusing on key works and major repertoires from this period. By the end of the course, students will have acquired the tools to understand historical developments, to read and analyze selected scores from the era, and to identify formal aspects of musical works through guided listening.

Course contents

The first part of the course aims to outline the general development of Western art music from the seventeenth century to the early nineteenth century, with particular attention to the main genres of the repertoire and their contextualization within historical dynamics. 

The second part of the course, corresponding to the monographic section, will be devoted to the study of the correspondence between Giuseppe Verdi and the publisher Giulio Ricordi during the three-year period of the composition of Otello. The topics addressed will include, in particular: correspondence as a source for the study of musical heritage; aspects of musical dramaturgy; the characterisation of the female figure in the Otello libretto; impresarial relationships; and the role of the composer within the context of nineteenth-century European culture.

Alongside the institutional and monographic components, the course will feature a complementary program titled "The Words of Music", developed in collaboration with Dr. Giovanna Casali. This segment will offer students guided listening sessions and an introduction to the main types of musicological sources, as well as to the methods for their critical analysis. Students will be encouraged to engage in active listening of major European musical forms and genres, and to develop personal listening pathways aimed at enhancing the value of the musical heritage.

Readings/Bibliography

- M. Carrozzo - C. Cimagalli, Storia della musica occidentale, vol. II: Dal barocco al classicismo viennese, Roma, Armando, 1999;

- A. Pompilio, M. Ricordi (a cura di), Carteggio Verdi-Ricordi, 1886-1888, Parma, Istituto nazionale di studi verdiani, 2010;

- G. Verdi, Otello, Milano, 1887;

- L. Bianconi - G. Pagannone, Piccolo glossario di drammaturgia musicale, in Insegnare il melodramma. Saperi essenziali, proposte didattiche, a cura di Giorgio Pagannone, Lecce-Iseo, Pensa MultiMedia, 2010, pp. 201-263;

- F. Della Seta, Breve lessico musicale, Roma, Carocci, 2014 (II ed.).

For Italian students who do not attend lectures, it is recommended to supplement the above program with the following readings:

- D. Sassoon, La cultura degli europei, Milano, Rizzoli, 2011: capitoli relativi al melodramma italiano dell’Ottocento;

- F. Della Seta, Italia e Francia nell’Ottocento, Torino, EdT, vol. 9, 1993, capitolo V: Dal 1860 al 1890, sezione 16: Verdi: da "La forza del destino" a "Falstaff".

For international students, including those who do not attend lectures, it is recommended to study:

- C. Wright, Listening to Western Music, Boston, 2014, pp. 1–225.

A video version with listening examples of Listening to Western Music (Yale University), with optional English subtitles, is available at the following links:

- YouTube playlist [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_yOVARO2Oc&list=PLh9mgdi4rNezhx8YiGIV8I22ICSuzslja]

- Coursera course [https://www.coursera.org/learn/introclassicalmusic/home/welcome]

At the end of the course, all course materials will be made available on the Virtuale platform, where students—both attending and non-attending—can also find detailed instructions on how to prepare for the exam.

International students are kindly requested to contact the instructor at least one month prior to the exam date by writing to: donatella.restani@unibo.it

Teaching methods

Lectures and practical sessions involving listening to and discussing musical compositions.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of an oral interview. The assessment will focus on:

• first, knowledge of the general framework of music history from 1600 to 1830;

• second, an in-depth knowledge of Verdi-Ricordi's correspondence; Otello's libretto;

• finally, the ability to use appropriate terminology in the description of main musical structures and genres.

Grading criteria:

• Failing grade: lack of basic knowledge and inability to provide a correct interpretation of the topics studied;

• Passing grade (sufficient): possession of basic knowledge; mostly correct interpretation, but with terminological inaccuracies and limited autonomy;

• Good grade: possession of intermediate-level knowledge; fully correct interpretation, though not always precise or autonomous;

• Excellent grade: possession of advanced knowledge; interpretation of topics is not only correct but also carried out with autonomy and precision. Excellent oral communication skills.

Teaching tools

Audio CDs and DVDs available at the Central Campus Library.

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Office hours

See the website of Donatella Restani