Topics in 17th Century Music (352-0-1)

Topic

Music in Venice

Instructors

Drew Davies
847/467-3367
dedavies@northwestern.edu

Meeting Info

RCMA Lower Level 121: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

This course will focus on the centrality of Venice - and the musical styles that disseminated from Venice - to the history of seventeenth-century European music, including baroque opera. We will navigate the unique topography of Venice to interrogate why musical styles such as monody, polychoral church music, and opera developed and flourished there; how printing and commerce drove musical style and practices; how popular and elite music intersected; and how music interacts with the verbal, architectural, and visual arts. Much of the course focuses on music by Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Monteverdi, Barbara Strozzi, and Francesco Cavalli, in addition to music in the Venetian styles created outside of Venice by composers such as Heinrich Schütz (Saxony) and Marcin Mielczewski (Poland). Students will tackle articles from scholarly journals, monographs, and primary sources; engage the concept of "baroque"; and debate the social functions of vocal music; and study different types of modern productions of baroque opera.

Registration Requirements

None, but see class notes below

Learning Objectives

- Understand genres of early baroque music in depth, including monody, opera, and vespers music;
- Develop familiarity with the music of Claudio Monteverdi, Giovani Gabrieli, Barbara Strozzi, and Francesco Cavalli;
- Discern the uniqueness of Venice as a place and musical center though study of its history, politics, geography, and institutions;
- Learn to read early baroque music from its original notation.

Teaching Method

Lectures, readings, discussions

Evaluation Method

One quiz and four written projects

Class Materials (Required)

All materials for this course will be available on Canvas or in the library. No purchases necessary.

Class Notes

The course is aimed at students with some previous background in baroque music. The ability to read music is essential. Italian and/or Latin language skills are useful but not required.