78081 - History of Instruments and of the Orchestra (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students: - will know about the main At the end of the course students: - will know about the main instruments of the European tra-dition, especially those employed in the modern and contemporary orchestra; - are able to concisely present their history, describe their peculiarities as far as construction, sound and timbre are concerned, and provide examples of their use.

Course contents

The course provides in-depth knowledge about the history, construction, sound and timbre characteristics, and use of the main musical instruments of the European tradition, in particular those employed in modern and contemporary orchestras. Each instrument (according to its family: strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, keyboard instruments and plucked instruments) will be introduced through listenings and the analysis of the most significant passages, in order to arrive at a more in-depth knowledge of the writing peculiarities associated with each instrument and its role in the orchestra.

 

Readings/Bibliography

The exam program is the same for regular and non-regular students.

 

All the students are required to know:

- S. Adler, Lo studio dell’orchestrazione, Torino EDT, 2008, pp. 3-605 (in the Biblioteca del Dipartimento delle Arti, section of Musica e Spettacolo, students will find also the CDs with Musical Examples).

 

Students who lack adequate knowledge of music history from the 17^th to the 20^th century are advised to read:

- E. Surian, Manuale di Storia della musica, vol. II: Dalla musica strumentale del Cinquecento al periodo classico (5^th ed., Milano, Rugginenti, 2010), vol. III: L’Ottocento: la musica strumentale e il teatro d'opera (5^th ed., ibid., 2014), vol. IV: Il Novecento (4^th ed., ibid., 2017).

 

NB: any change in this programme should be agreed with the teacher.

 

NB 2: Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

 

Assessment methods

The final exam will consist in:

 

1) a concise listening test, in which students will have to be able to identify, at least roughly, the setting of an orchestral composition proposed by the teacher, composed in the period between the 17^th and the 20^th century;

 

2) an oral discussion, focusing on the readings in the bibliography.

 

It will be assessed as excellent the performance of those students achieving an organic vision of the course contents, the use of a proper specific language as well as the originality of the reflection. It will be assessed as discrete the performance of those students showing mostly mechanical or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, not articulated synthesis and analysis capabilities as well as a correct but not always appropriate language. It will be assessed as barely sufficient the performance of those students showing learning gaps or inappropriate language. It will be assessed as insufficient the performance of those students showing learning gaps, inappropriate language and no orientation within the recommended bibliography.

 

NB: 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 Elisabetta Pasquini