Admission requirements
Participants must have an elementary knowledge of music. The ability to read music is not required.
Description:
As a result of globalisation, migration and the Internet, what is today known as world music has become part of our musical landscape. This is borne out by the hundreds of concerts and festivals that take place every year, and by the impressive sales of CDs and DVDs. In this module, world music will be studied from a practical viewpoint, since music is first of all a practical activity: a question of listening and doing, of repeating and creating. Under the supervision of a number of specialists, students will become familiar with music from different regions, such as Indonesia, India, West Africa, and the Balkans. As well as basic concepts such as rhythm and melody, other subjects to be addressed include modality, composition and improvisation, oral and written traditions, and forms of transmission.
Course objectives
The aim of this course is to apply but also challenge some of the notions about music that are ingrained into Western musical thinking; as well as to make participants aware that in spite of the great diversity of instruments, types of ensembles, genres and styles worldwide, there are also similarities, particularly in the way music is made and reflected on.
Time table:
September/October, Mondays 13-15 hrs. at Lipsius, room 208 (8 sessions in total including final test).
Lecture dates: 1, 8, 15 and 22 September, and 6,13 and 20 October 2014.
Final exam date: 27 October 2014, 13.00-15.00 hrs. at Lipsius, room 208.
Teaching method:
Lectures and workshops
Test method:
Assessment will be made on the basis of:
1. Examination of the assigned literature and information given in the lectures
2. Attendance (at least 5 sessions – will be checked by means of an attendance list)
3. Homework assignments based on the listening to music examples
4. Final exam
Blackboard
Yes
Required reading:
Compulsory: – Articles, to be disseminated via Blackboard and read in advance to every lecture; – Handouts
Recommended: – Philip V. Bohlman, World Music: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. – Simon Broughton & Mark Ellingham (eds.), The rough guide to world music. London and New York: Rough Guides, 2000. 2 vols – Nicholas Cook, Music: a very short introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998, reprint 2000.
Information:
Rogier Schneemann
Aleksandra Markovic
Registration:
NB: this course is NOT listed in Usis. Students are obliged to register for this course through the application form that can be downloaded via this link.
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Elective courses music and fine arts