ETHNOMUSICOLOGY

Given the diverse backgrounds of the students, the course begins with an assessment designed to gauge their level of familiarity with the main themes and technical terms of ethnomusicological research. This assessment is aimed primarily at those who have not taken the “Fundamentals of Ethnomusicology” course on the Bachelor’s programme, or who are not familiar with the themes of ethno-anthropological research.
Following this general introduction, this year’s monographic course is dedicated to the relationship between music and those particular phenomena known as 'Altered States of Consciousness' (ASC), a term recently revised to 'Modified States of Consciousness' or, even more recently, simply ‘States of Consciousness’.
In particular, according to Alan P. Merriam and J.J. Nattiez, music plays a role in inducing specific states of consciousness as it influences physical responses, interfering with the body’s basic functions, such as heart rate, breathing and muscular performance. It also establishes a ‘different’ sense of time, as it is governed by parameters (rhythm, metre) that differ from those of ordinary, measured, chronometred time. This ‘different’ sense of time can help induce a sense of temporal—and sometimes spatial—disorientation in the participant, encouraging them to step outside themselves. And it should, of course, be noted that in a ritual, ‘music’ and ‘dance’ coexist.
The course will examine some specific examples of musical and choreographic rituals that have emerged across the globe.

According to the framework for the European Higher Education, the so called Dublin descriptors, the expected results are:
1. Knowledge and Understanding
a) To know the basic terms and concepts of the discipline and to understand the texts that use such terms and concepts.
b) To understand the peculiarities of Ethnomusicological research.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
a) Being capable of a simple analysis of some given musical examples, being aware of the singles musical languages and cultures.
b) Ability to connect a musical tune with its cultural framework.

3. Judgement's ability
a) Being capable to formulate and to argument simples hypothesis.

4. Communications Skills
a) Being able to communicate the peculiarities of the Transcultural Musicology approach to music, using an appropriate terminology.

5. Learning Ability
● Being able to take notes and to share them in a collaborative form.
● Being able to consult to consult the texts critically and the Bibliography immanent.

No particular prerequisites are required but open-mindedness, curiosity and attention.

After a general introduction, the core of this year’s course is devoted to the relationship between music and states of consciousness.

1) Gilbert ROUGET, Musica e trance. I rapporti fra la musica e i fenomeni di possessione, new edition, Torino, Einaudi, 2019. (Ed. or: La musique et la transe. Esquisse d’une théorie générale des relations de la musique et de la possession, Paris, Gallimard, 1980).
2) Giovanni DE ZORZI, Samā. L'ascolto e il concerto spirituale nella tradizione sufi, Milano, Jouvence, 2021.
3) Giovanni DE ZORZI, “Tra sciamani e bakhshı, tra l’estatica e l’estetica” in Il cosmo sciamanico. Ontologie indigene fra Asia e Americhe, edited by Stefano Beggiora, Milano, Franco Angeli, 2019: 34-49.

Oral examination. It starts with a topic of the candidate's choice. The examination then continues with questions on the texts in the Bibliography.

oral

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

The grading scale for examinations adopted by Ca' Foscari is as follows:
A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned for:
- Sufficient knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Limited ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Sufficient communication skills.
B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned for:
- Fair knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Fair ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Fair communication skills.
C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned for:
- Good or excellent knowledge of the textbooks and related topics
- Good or excellent ability to use data and form independent judgments
- Fully appropriate communication skills.
D. The “laude” will be awarded to students with excellent knowledge and comprehension of the textbooks and related topics.

Lectures with audio and video examples + scores.

Before starting a course I order the necessary texts for the course in BAUM; obviously, being exam papers, these are not available for loan. You can also find the texts for the exam in Venetian and national bookstores, online, or in the many Venetian libraries.

Ca ’Foscari applies Italian law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) for the support and accommodation services available to students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities. If you have a motor, visual, hearing or other disability (Law 17/1999) or a specific learning disorder (Law 170/2010) and you require support (classroom assistance, technological aids for carrying out exams or exams individualized, accessible format material, note retrieval, specialist tutoring to support the study, interpreters or other) contact the Disability and DSA office disita@unive.it.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development