2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

MUSS2721 Music in Context A

20 creditsClass Size: 80

Module manager: Dr James Mooney
Email: j.r.mooney@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

Pre-requisite qualifications

Normally MUSS1030, or A-level Music, or appropriate equivalent

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Topic 1: Music, Culture, Politics: the Sixties: This topic will look at the music, culture, politics, and art of one of the most creatively prolific eras of the last century. It will survey developments on both sides of the Atlantic, though major focus will be placed upon music, popular culture, and political developments in the United States, including the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, and Haight-Ashbury. The module will explore Dylan's journey from folk singer to electric rocker, the Beatles' progress from beat group to psychedelic gurus, and will examine the soundtracks that accompanied the emergence of the anti-war movement, the rise of the hippies in London and San Francisco, and the evolution of a new and confident black America, and its shift from peaceful protest to riots in the streets. Music will form the essential heart of our studies but other key influences - radical poets and thinkers, Eastern gurus, Pop artists, and underground film-makers - will feature in our consideration of a decade of explosive change.Topic 2 : Music in the Judeo-Christian Tradition: From the Levites of the Jerusalem temple to the choral traditions of the great Western cathedrals, liturgical ceremonies down the centuries have retained music at their core. This course will survey some of the variety of musical expression found in the European Judeo-Christian tradition, as well as their unorthodox offshoots. Within all religions very diverse views about the nature and function of music can be held. Is the power and beauty of music itself a form of worship of the deity, or is the over-elaboration of musical practice mere human self-indulgence? Should music be a means by which the worshipper achieves a state of ecstasy or trance, or a means of enhancing the awesomeness of the deity? These issues will be explored using a wide variety of examples from Judaism and Christianity, enabling you to distinguish your niggun from your nusach, your piyyut from your plainchant, and your leyning from your organum. Optional visits to religious places of worship may be organised if time permits. The topic will feature contributions from guest speakers representing the different faiths under investigation.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- demonstrate the broadening of their musical knowledge through study of a defined musicological area;
- apply appropriate historical, analytical, critical and comparative methodologies to the articulation and development of arguments;
- demonstrate the development of research, and essay-writing skills;
- develop an awareness of contextual approaches applicable to a broad range of repertoire.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- demonstrate the broadening of their musical knowledge through study of a defined musicological area;
- apply appropriate historical, analytical, critical and comparative methodologies to the articulation and development of arguments;
- demonstrate the development of research, and essay-writing skills;
- develop an awareness of contextual approaches applicable to a broad range of repertoire.

Syllabus

Students will study one topic chosen from a range available. Topics offered will cover a spectrum of musicological areas in different musical disciplines and contexts, including art, commercial, popular and world musics. The module may be taught via a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Plenary lectures and associated seminars will support students in developing their skills in the literature review and essay writing. At least one class will be given over to individual tutorials.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	3	1.00	3.00
Lecture	7	2.00	14.00
Seminar	2	1.00	1.00
Tutorial	1	0.25	0.25
Private study hours			181.75
Total Contact hours			18.25
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

4 hours evaluation of notes per topic lecture: 28 hours;
6 hours reading and listening per topic lecture or seminar: 54 hours;
Essay writing: 74 hours;
Plenary lectures and Seminar preparation: 26 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Contribution to round table discussion in seminars, and feedback.
- Tutorials.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	4800-5200 words (this element must be passed)	75.00
Literature Review	800-1000 words	25.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 21/09/2018

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