First semester 2020-2021

What the meaning and content of contextual studies is can be read in the horizontal menu (link).

In the first semester of year one the focus is on acquiring basic knowledge and basic terminology of music; placed in a historical framework.

We start in the 18th century, because within this century a big amount of key terms from music in a mjor-minor idiom can be discussed. It is also a century with a varied repertoire; we encounter composers from the Italian, German and French (late) baroque era (Vivaldi, Bach, Couperin), and composers from the classical era, including the Viennese Classic Composers (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven). This means homophonic as well as contrapuntal music will be discussed.

To illustrate principles (while listening), music from all times and places can be used.

In the lesson we use knowledge domains as a source. The 4 most important are:

• Analysis (form means, form principles, structure and texture, form types sucha as sonata form, fugue, rondo etc.
• Harmony (tonality, harmonic functions, degrees, cadential formulas, modulation, voice leading, etc.
• Counterpoint (imitation, answer, dissonant treatment, fugue/fugato etc.
• History (Part Four, chapters 18-23, from AHWM)