The cultural history of music notation

Educator: Mads Emil Dreyer

Contact person: Lene Christensen, lc@rmc.dk

In this module, we will engage with the historical development of the language of music from the early Middle Ages to the 21st century. Among other things, we will take a closer look at notation practices in both Western classical music tradition, tablature, ciphers, piano rolls and graphic notation – including works by, for example, Hildegard von Bingen, Igor Stravinsky, John Cage, Conlon Nancarrow, Else Marie Pade, Simon Steen-Andersen and Laura Toxværd. We will use this as a starting point for looking at music notation in an expanded field, where modern recording technologies and digitization have paved the way for a wealth of new methods for the preservation and reproduction of musical works.

We will look at how these technologies have influenced the musical ideals of formation and power structures in and around the creation of music, as well as how composers across genres today work to maintain and convey their works in graphic form. During the module, the individual student will ainted with a broad section of the noted music history as develop tools for orienting themselves in written music.

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PREREQUISITES

Elementary knowledge of the note language and its components is an advantage, but not a requirement.

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the module, the student will:

• Have a broad knowledge of music notation in both a historical and contemporary perspective
• Be able to form an overview of a musical work in written form
• Be able to use subject terminology in the dissemination of a piece of written music

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CONTENTS

We will work with the following areas:

• introduction to different notation practices in both a historical and contemporary context.
• Analyses of a selection of works that together form a representative framework for the development history of the music notation.

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NIVEAU

BA

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TIME

One semester, 2 hours per week, expected Fridays (not finally scheduled yet)

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ETS

2,5 ECTS

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TEACHING AND WORKING METHODS

• Lectures
• Group work
• Presentations
• Homework in the form of text reading and analysis

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GROUP FORMATION

Usually 8-9 Students

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ASSESSMENT

The assessment takes place on the basis of a reflection essay (in writing), alternatively a podcast. A self-chosen topic must be explained within the framework of the module’s topics in the form of a reflection essay of 5 standard pages or a podcast with a duration of 10 minutes. The essay must include a minimum of five source references, of which a minimum of two must be included in the source list for the module. This requirement also applies to podcasts. Students with a mother tongue other than Danish can submit the assignment in Scandinavian or English. The essay is submitted in WISEflow before the deadline, set by the Study Administration.

 

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REFERENCES

In the module we will i.a. make use of the following literature and works:

James Grier: Musical Notation in the West

Linda Lusk/Tom Gerou: Essential Dictionary of Music Notation

Theresa Sauer: Notations 21

 

Hildegard von Bingen: Diverse værker

J.S. Bach: Brandenburger-koncerterne 1-6

Beethoven: Symfoni nr. 3

Fanny Hensel: Klavertrio, op. 11

Stravinskij: Le Sacre du printemps

Ligeti: Articulation + Lontano

Conlon Nancarrow: Studies for Player Piano

John Cage: Aria

Galina Ustvolskaya: Klaversonater 1-6

Cathy Berberian: Stripsody

Iannis Xenakis: Psappha

Else Marie Pade: Faust

Kaija Saariaho: …à la Fumée

Hans Abrahamsen: Schnee

Simon Steen-Andersen: Black Box Music

Laura Toxværd: Barking