Not offered in 2008
A focus on the history and repertoire of selected composers of vocal music and its performance practices, especially the relationship between the word and its musical setting. This is examined from a number of language bases leading to an examination of national traditions of song.
On successful completion of the unit, students should have an understanding of the complexity of the relationship between a text and its musical setting in the song as well as a number of methods of an analytical inquiry which can be applied specifically to the song.
Four short assignments (1000 words): 10%
Four class papers (15 minutes each): 10%
Essay (4000 words): 40%
Examination (3 hours): 40%
3 hours (2 x 1 hour lectures and 1 x 1 hour seminar) per week