To put it short and simple: by means of analysis we try to figure out "how music works". 

Within Contextual Studies we wil concern ourselves In year 1 with general principles of form, structure and texture in music as well as several basic and "iconic" form types and form procedures. 

We will be analyzing with and without scores (aurally).

Musical analysis as a discipline has a relatively short history going back to the late 19th century.

Of course throughout history there have been people have tried to understand music and the principles and patterns behind it, practical (how to compose/write music and how to peform it) but as a theoretical/academic discipline it's very young.

A very good article is by Ian D. Bent and Anthony Pople in Grove Music Online: https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.41862 (this link brongs you to www.kb.nl, Oxford Music Online, if you have subscribed (see Learning Materials).