FUNDAMENTALS OF ETHNOMUSICOLOGY

The course intends to address themes, technical terms and objectives of ethnomusicological research in order to provide the participant with a general knowledge of the fundamentals of the discipline and its specificities.

More specifically, the course will examine: 1. the particular approach of ethnomusicology (EM) in relation to historical musicology (MS), to demo-ethno-anthropological disciplines (DEA) and to recent studies of contemporary popular music ("Popular Music Studies "); 2. the emic concept of music; 3. the sound / noise opposition; 4. the intentionality of musical action; 5. the particular temporality of sound events; 6. the presence of rules for the organization of sounds; 7. the presence and use of objects and technologies for music; 8. the many organologies born on the planet; 9. the project immanent to musical action; 10. the functions attributed to music production.

During the course we will focus on the historical features of the young discipline and on some of its typical methods of investigation: field research, recording and analysis of recorded songs, use of the video camera, the audiovisual investigation in ethnomusicology. The course will end by examining the very recent concept of "Transcultural Musicology".

As every year, there will be initiatives related to the course, for which attendance is required.

According to the framework for the European Higher Education, the so called Dublin descriptors, the expected results are:
1. Knowledge and Understanding
a) To know the basic terms and concepts of the discipline and to understand the texts that use such terms and concepts.
b) To understand the peculiarities of the approaches of MS, EM, DEA as well as the brand new approach of the so called Transcultural Musicology.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
a) Being capable of a simple analysis of some given musical examples, being aware of the singles musical languages and cultures.
b) Ability to connect a musical tune with its cultural framework.

3. Judgement's ability
a) Being capable to formulate and to argument simples hypothesis.

4. Communication Skills
a) Being able to communicate the peculiarities of the ethnomusicological approach to music, using an appropriate terminology.

5. Learning Ability
● Being able to take notes and to share them in a collaborative form.
● Being able to consult the texts critically and the Bibliography immanent.

Open mindedness, attention and curiosity. Welcome notions of musical grammar.

The course aims to address issues, technical terms and objectives of ethnomusicological research in order to provide the participant with a basic knowledge of the discipline and its specificities.

1) Francesco GIANNATTASIO, Il concetto di musica. Contributi e prospettive della ricerca etnomusicologica, Roma, Bulzoni, 1998.
2) Tullia MAGRINI (ed.), Universi Sonori. Introduzione all'etnomusicologia, Torino, Einaudi, 2002.

Further bibliographical indications will be given in class.

Please note that Ca' Foscari has abolished the distinction between “attending” and “non-attending”. The oral examination is therefore based exclusively on the texts in the bibliography. It starts with a topic of the candidate's choice. It continues with questions on the reference texts.
The University's grading scale for examinations will be adopted, and so:
1) Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned for: Sufficient knowledge of the textbooks and related topics; Limited ability to use data and form independent judgments; Sufficient communication skills.
2) Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned for: Fair knowledge of the textbooks and related topics; Fair ability to use data and form independent judgments; Fair communication skills.
3) Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned for: Good or excellent knowledge of the textbooks and related topics; Good or excellent ability to use data and form independent judgments; Fully appropriate communication skills.
4) The “laude” will be awarded to students with excellent knowledge and comprehension of the textbooks and related topics.

oral

Lessons with audio and video examples.

Italian

Before starting a course I order the necessary texts for the course in BAUM; obviously, being exam papers, these are not available for loan.
You can also find the texts for the exam in Venetian as well as national bookstores, online, or in the many Venetian libraries.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development