LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to introduce the student to the fundamental issues of the history of art music between the radical paradigm shift that arose with the two-year period 1889/90 and the Second World War. The aim is to develop a solid awareness of the options available to the composer of the so-called historical twentieth century, in a context of musical production and use that has changed significantly compared to the romantic century.

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 the music of Central European countries 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

General interest in music and its use as an art form.

TEACHING METHODS

Class lessons with CD and DVD examples. 

Attending class is strongly recommended.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will enquire the development of Music from 1890 to about 1945, from the autumn of Romanticism to the Second World War. The general outline of that historical period will be regularly exemplified in class through CDs and DVDs, leading students to a solid knowledge of styles, genres and main composers of Music from Debussy to Ives. A short monographic course (9 hours) will also be held on Genoese musical institutions between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Readings in English (see page in Italian for Readings in Italian)

1. J. Auner, Music in the Twentieth and Twenty-first Centuries, Norton, New York, pp. 1-188.

3. A. Cantù - G. Tanasini, La lanterna magica. Ottocento strumentlae nella vita pubblica e privata della Superba, Sagep. 1991, pp. 113-148.

4. M. Balma, Genovanovecento. Concerti e associazioni musicali (1900-1993), Sagep, 1993, pp. 13-92.

Books are normally available at the University Library.

Listening experience during the preparation to the exam is strongly recommended. CDs and DVDs are also available at the same library.