OVERVIEW

The period from the late nineteenth century to the Second World War was marked by profound transformations in Europe, both in its geopolitical landscape and in the evolution of intellectual thought and aesthetic sensibilities across various artistic and cultural domains.

This course provides an overview of the history of Western art music during this era, examining its development in relation to the historical and political processes, as well as the broader artistic and cultural movements that shaped the period.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Between the radical paradigm shift that begins with the two-year period 1889/90 and the Second World War, the teaching aims to introduce the student to the fundamental issues of the history of art music, particularly European art music. The goal of the class is to give students a solid understanding of the options available to composers in the so-called historical twentieth century, in a context of musical production and use that has changed dramatically since the romantic era.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at providing the student with the capabilities to understand symbols and meanings of musical language, increasing the awareness of the numerous relationships between music, literature, arts and sciences. The main assumption of the course is that the knowledge and competence about genres, forms and authors from the history of western music completes significantly the cultural preparation of any student of humanities.

By the end of the course students will be able to understand a significant time span of the history of western music, having developed tools to understand musical language which could be applied also to other contexts. 

The course aims to enable the student to achieve the following educational results:

1. With reference to knowledge and understanding

a. Know and assimilate some aspects of Western art music between the end of the nineteenth century and the 40s of the twentieth century.

b. Know and recognize some of the main musical genres and forms of the periods considered.

2. With reference to applied knowledge and understanding:

a.. Acquire listening and analysis skills of Western art music.

PREREQUISITES

No prior knowledge required

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lectures.

Although not compulsory, attendance is strongly recommended due to the didactics based on constant audio and video exemplification.

Students with disabilities or DSAs are reminded that in order to request adaptations in the exam, they must first enter their certification on the University website at servizionline.unige.it in the "Students" section. The documentation will be verified by the University's Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and DSA Sector (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111). Subsequently, at least 10 days before the date of the exam, an e-mail
must be sent to the teacher with whom you will take the exam, including in the knowledge copy both the School's Teacher Referent for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and with DSA (Prof. Elisabetta Colagrossi: elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) and the Sector indicated above. The e-mail should specify: the name of the teaching; the date of the call; the student's last name, first name and roll number; the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures deemed functional; and required.  The contact person will confirm to the lecturer that the applicant is entitled to apply for adaptations in the examination and that these adaptations must be agreed upon with the lecturer. The lecturer will respond by informing whether the requested adaptations can be used.

Requests should be sent at least 10 days before the date of the call in order to allow the lecturer(s) to evaluate the content. In particular, in case you intend to make use of maps conceptual maps for the exam (which must be much more concise than the maps used for studying) if the submission does not meet the deadline there will not be the technical time needed to make any changes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

This course examines the trajectory of Western art music from the final decades of the nineteenth century through to the Second World War. The general outline of that historical period will be regularly exemplified in class through audiovisuals, leading students to a solid knowledge of styles, genres and main composers from Bruckner to Messiaen.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Raffale Mellace, Il racconto della musica europea. Da Bach a Debussy. Roma, Carocci, 2019, only pp. 319-519

2. Guido Salvetti, La nacita del Novecento. Torino, EDT, 1991.

3. Gianfranco Vinay, Il Novecento nell'Europa orientale e negli Stati Uniti. Torino, EDT, 1991.

Non-attending students are required to contact the professor by e-mail in order to agree on the exam programme.

N. B. Books are available at the university library and/or in the bookshop. Audio-visual examples, readings, and in-depth digital resources will be offered on the Aulaweb: although they are not part of the examination programme, these materials will allow some of the issues addressed in class to be explored in depth.

The bibliography may be subject to change and it is therefore advisable to wait until the start of the lectures before purchasing or borrowing.

Erasmus students not proficient in Italian may request a substitutive bibliography, and take the examination in English.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 2026

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam.

The examination may be taken in English or Italian, at the student's free choice. The choice of language does not affect the exam score.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will consist in an oral interview on the course program and its bibliography. Students will be tested on (instrumental and vocal) genres and forms, styles and main authors of the portion of history of music considered in the course program, paying specific attention to the evolution of each style.

The evaluation considers the student’s knowledge of the programme (topics presented in class, bibliography, handouts available in aulaweb). In addition, student’s speaking skills, critical skills and acquisition of musicological vocabulary are also taken into account.

FURTHER INFORMATION

It is strongly recommended to register on the course's Aulaweb, where in-depth materials and course-related news will be provided.

Ask the professor for further information not included in the course syllabus