HISTORY OF MUSIC I

The course is part of the core curriculum of the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Conservation and Management of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Activities (TARS curriculum). It provides students with a foundational knowledge of the history of music from the Middle Ages to the first half of the eighteenth century, examining music as a cultural and social practice.
The course also aims to develop students' ability to interpret musical phenomena within the historical, social and cultural contexts of medieval and early modern Europe. Particular attention is devoted to the relationships between musical repertoires, institutions, performance practices, systems of patronage, and the production and circulation of music from the Middle Ages to the first half of the eighteenth century.
The course forms part of a two-module sequence (see History of Music II). Students are awarded the full 12 ECTS credits upon successful completion of both modules.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

demonstrate knowledge of the main historical, social and cultural contexts, musical institutions, and principal forms of the European musical repertoire from the Middle Ages to the first half of the eighteenth century;
understand the development of musical languages, genres, and compositional and performance practices that shaped medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music;
identify, through guided listening, the principal stylistic features of the musical repertoires studied and employ the fundamental terminology of the discipline;
analyse musical works, historical sources and musical documents by relating them to the historical, cultural and social contexts in which they were produced and transmitted;
situate composers, repertoires and musical practices within the broader transformations of European culture between the Middle Ages and the first half of the eighteenth century, recognising the role of institutions, systems of patronage, and practices of performance and reception.

Assessment will take the form of an oral examination. The examination consists of three questions designed to assess students' knowledge of the course contents, their ability to contextualise musical works, repertoires, and practices within their historical framework, and to interpret their relationships with the cultural, social, and institutional contexts of medieval and early modern Europe.

During the course, the main themes in the history of European music from the Middle Ages to the first half of the eighteenth century will be critically examined, with particular attention to the development of musical languages, forms, genres, and compositional and performance practices that shaped the musical cultures of the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Through the analysis of musical works, historical sources, and musical documents, the course will explore the relationship between music and society, the role of religious and secular institutions, systems of patronage, the production, transmission, and circulation of music, and the emergence and transformation of musical professions.
Particular attention will be devoted to the principal vocal and instrumental repertoires of the European tradition, examined within their historical, cultural, and social contexts, as well as to the processes that transformed musical practices, from manuscript culture to the spread of music printing, from the development of polyphony to the emergence of opera and the consolidation of instrumental music between the sixteenth century and the first half of the eighteenth century.

1 textbook of your choice from the following:
- Davide Daolmi, Storia della musica: Dalle origini al Seicento, Firenze: Le Monnier, 2019;
or
- Paolo Fabbri and Maria Chiara Bertieri, eds., Musica e Società 1. Dall'Alto Medioevo al 1640, Lucca: LIM, 2024.
2 chapters of your choice from one of the following selections (For students who are NOT attending classes, there are 5 chapters):
- Paolo Fabbri, Alessandro Roccatagliati, and Paolo Russo, eds., Musica e Società 2. Dal 1640 al 1830, Lucca: LIM, 2024: choose 2 chapters from Chapters 1–3 (pp. 1–223);
or
- Andrea Chegai, Franco Piperno, Antonio Rostagno, and Emanuele Senici, eds., Musiche nella storia. Dall'età di Dante alla Grande Guerra, Roma: Carocci, 2020: choose 2 chapters from Chapters 1–5 (pp. 19–306).
Additional bibliography will be provided during the course.

Assessment will take the form of an oral examination. The examination consists of three questions designed to assess students' knowledge of the course contents, their ability to contextualise musical works, repertoires, and practices within their historical framework, and to interpret their relationships with the cultural, social, and institutional contexts of medieval and early modern Europe.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

Grading criteria and assessment standards:
Assessment will be based on the following criteria: the accuracy and appropriate use of disciplinary terminology (30%); the breadth and precision of knowledge of the topics covered during the course and acquired through the prescribed readings (30%); the ability to apply and critically discuss the knowledge acquired in relation to the case studies examined throughout the course (30%); and the clarity and effectiveness of oral presentation (10%).
Marks in the 18–22 range will be awarded where these criteria are met at a satisfactory level; marks in the 23–26 range where they are met at a good level; marks in the 27–30 range where they are met at an excellent level. The distinction of 30 cum laude will be awarded for outstanding performance across all assessment criteria.

Lectures supplemented by readings, musical examples, and guided listening sessions.

The first class will provide an overview of the course structure and examination requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to attend.

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