Denmark in the world – the world in Denmark: The sound of international currents in Danish music

(course will be held in Danish)

Teacher: Henrik Marstal

Contact: Morten Tandrup, mta@rmc.dk

Like so many other countries in the world Denmark has musically always been deeply influenced by the impulses emanating from the United States and Great Britain. For it was in these two parts of the world that musically popular main genres such as rock, soul, folk, hip hop, disco, heavy metal, house and techno emerged. So, when musicians at home embraced these genres, the obvious could only happen by listening very carefully to the role models.

In that sense, the sound of Danish music can therefore basically be said to be the sound of changing currents from abroad. But does that mean that Danish music is to be a derivative item, a copy? Of course not. For the ways in which the currents were absorbed were anything but foreign: a special Danish or perhaps rather ‘homegrown’ approach ensured that the music, for better or worse, often sounded like something quite different from the role models.

In this module, we will make a number of theses on Danish music life from the mid-1960s and take a closer look at how new genres from abroad were absorbed by Danish musicians. The purpose of the module is to investigate how Danish music has come into being in relation to these genres, sometimes because of them, sometimes despite them. The students’ own experiences of being Danish musicians in an internationalized popular music culture will to a certain extent be sought to be included as a perspective on the module’s research.

The module takes place in close connection with the teacher’s own research in the subject, which will result in a book project on Danish music’s relations to foreign currents.


Prerequisites

Everyone is welcome. It is an advantage to have an interest in Danish music and to be curious about why Danish music can be said to sound the way it does. It will also be an advantage, but not a requirement, to have some knowledge of Danish music from the 1960s onwards. The teaching takes place in Danish.


Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, the student will:
• Have become acquainted with significant currents in Danish music

  • Have gained knowledge of how international currents are negotiated and domesticated
  • Have gained insight into Danish music’s overall ‘location’ in the big popular musical picture

Contents

We will work with the following areas:

  • Review of selected artists, works, genres
  • Discussion of theoretical conditions regarding appropriation, assimilation and copying
  • The use of resp. Danish and English as song languages
  • Danish musicians’ relations to foreign role models
  • The concept of musical Danishness and the concept of elusive Danishness

Teaching and working methods

– Lectures

– Presentations

– Reading texts

– Listening to music


Group formation

Normally 8-9 students per class.


Assessment

A topic of the student’s choice will be presented within the framework of the themes of the module in the form of an essay (5 standard pages).

The essay is turned in through Wiseflow before the deadline that is set by the Study Administration.


Reading and listening lists and references

Text extracts from various academic literature / articles will be used as well as articles, manuscript extracts and presentations related to the lecturer’s own ongoing research.

Musical references: Cæsar, Povl Dissing, Young Flowers, Gasolin ’, Trille, Pia Raug, Future 3, Mercyful Fate, Aqua, Østkyst Hustlers / MC Einar, L:Ron Harald, Kashmir, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy and many more.

WHEN

One bachelor semester. Probably Fridays (not scheduled yet).

WHERE

Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium

ONLINE

No

LEVEL

BA

ECTS

2,5

LANGUAGE

Danish

REGISTRATION

If you wish to participate in one of the TVAERS courses, you need to register 1 or 2-course requests.

Before the course start, you will be notified if you can be offered a place on a module.

Registration opens on June 3rd.

The deadline for registration for the fall semester of 2022 is 17 June

You register by this link