Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the students will be able to:

• apply musicological approaches and methods to both historical and contemporary Swedish and foreign material
• independently write an essay
• carry out music analysis at a basic level
• broadly account for the differences between different forms of music
• independently describe and interpret musical works or musical performances in written form
• search for and critically evaluate information and sources of musicological knowledge
• process a source material relevant to the course and evaluate it independently, as well as present the result in written form
• carry out music analysis at a basic level and be able to account for this in writing
• identify and describe common and typical forms in Western art music
• with some guidance, identify characteristic features of/within different types of music
• account for tools and methods used in the analysis of popular music and how these can be implemented

During the autumn semester the module World Music, 7.5 credits, is included, and during the spring semester, the module Popular Music, 7.5 credits, is included. For these modules, the following aims apply:

World music, 7.5 credits

After completing the module, the students will be able to:

• highlight, problematise and independently discuss world music based on ethnomusicological research traditions and concepts
• account for the use and content of the concept of world music in a historical and global perspective
• identify distinctive features of the musical cultures that are dealt with in the module

Popular music, 7.5 credits:

After completing the module, the students will be able to:

• account for the main features of popular music culture and possible demarcations from other musical cultures
• problematise the organisational, mediated and economic history of popular music
• present illustrative examples of music in popular music and identify characteristics, functions and contexts

Content

Essay, 7.5 credits

The course provides the basics of essay writing. During the course, the student must produce an independent written essay.

Music analysis, 7.5 credits

The module introduces basic music analysis. In the module, a number of pieces of music are studied. Focus lies on how to approach music with different types of music analysis, such as motif analysis, form analysis and Schenker analysis. Students learn to identify and describe forms that are common in Western art music, and practice identifying characteristic features in different types of music. The course also covers tools and methods relevant in the analysis of popular music. An important part of the course is exercises in how to account for music analysis in writing.

Specialised module in musicology, 7.5 credits

The content of the musicological specialisation course varies from semester to semester. Contact the department for further information.

World music, 7.5 credits - autumn semester

The module deals with selected traditional musical cultures in non-European and European cultures based on the diversity of music. Music and musicianship are studied in a historical and global perspective with a particular focus on cultural aspects. Ethnomusicological research and world music as a genre are discussed and problematised from perspectives such as critical theories on ethnicity, identity, commercialism and authenticity, tradition and hybridity.

Popular music, 7.5 credits - spring Semester

The module focuses on popular music and music in popular culture. Music and musicianship are studied from historical, economic and cultural perspectives, with a particular focus on social aspects of popular music, as well as how popular music is embedded in mass media and commercial processes.

Instruction

Lectures, seminars and essay supervision.

Assessment

Essay, 7.5 credits

Oral and written presentations, an independently written essay, and ventilation and opposition of the essay.

Specialised module in musicology, 7.5 credits

Assignments and seminar assignments.

Music analysis, 7.5 credits

Seminar assignments and assignments.

World music, 7.5 credits - autumn semester

Written assignments and seminar assignments.

Popular music, 7.5 Credits - Spring Semester

Written assignments and seminar assignments.

If there are special reasons, the examiner may make exceptions from the specified examination method and allow a student to be examined in another way. Special reasons may be, for example, notification of targeted study support from the university's coordinator.

Other regulations

The course cannot be included in the Musicology bachelor’s degree in combination with the course Music theory 1, (15 credits) Western art music (7,5 credits) or World music (7,5 credits).