Overview

This module develops students' musicological skills through the study of European music composed between 1550 and 1850, complemented by a series of workshops on advanced study skills.

The module surveys selected works in a range of genres from the late Renaissance to the break-up of imperial Europe in the nineteenth century. Changes and developments in musical style will be set in their historical, cultural, social, geographical and aesthetic contexts. In addition, students undertake deeper study of works from the period, exploring them analytically as musical texts, and probing the circumstances in which they were composed.

Indicative lecture topics include: - Palestrina and the golden age of polyphony - The madrigal - Music in Elizabethan Britain - The invention of opera - The rise of instrumental music in the 17th century - The Baroque concerto - Music in Restoration Britain - Women, music and the Baroque - Bach - Baroque opera - Baroque oratorio - The hegemony of sonata form - String quartet and symphony - The classical concerto - Beethoven - Schubert and the Lied - Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn - Virtuosity: Paganini, Liszt and Chopin - Verdi

Indicative set texts for deeper study in seminars include: - Monteverdi: 1610 Vespers - Mozart: Don Giovanni - Dowland: Lacrimae

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D– to D+: Work which demonstrates an adequate knowledge of the subject, with limited ability at conceptual and critical thinking, expressed intelligibly.

-good -B– to B: Work which demonstrates a good grasp of the subject, with strong conceptual and critical thinking, expressed engagingly.

-excellent -A– to A**: Work which demonstrates a thorough grasp of the subject, with evidence of originality in conceptual and critical thinking, expressed convincingly.

-another level-C– to C+: Work which demonstrates a competent grasp of the subject, with adequate conceptual and critical thinking, expressed understandably.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of the module, the student should be able identify and assess aspects of specified repertoire.

• On completion of the module, the student should be able to analyse music from scores and / or performances, as appropriate.

• On completion of the module, the student should be able to communicate ideas effectively.

• On completion of the module, the student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of specific works, styles, genres and musical features in repertoire composed between 1550 and 1850.

• On completion of the module, the student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of the historical and cultural circumstances in which music was composed and performed between 1550 and 1850.

• On completion of the module, the student should be able to demonstrate the ability to research topics in music history independently.