Course - Power, ritual, and music: the role of the arts in political communication 800-1500. - HIST3405
Power, ritual, and music: the role of the arts in political communication 800-1500.
About
About the course
Course content
Rituals were of primary importance in the process of public communication during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Among these rituals, music obtains a central position. Instrumental and vocal music is not only performed to emphazise style and identity of the nobility during peace and war, but it is also used as a means to formulate the ideas of ecclesiastical authorities concerning ideal rulership, and justified political and military power. Professional music-making during the period 800-1500 is based on the economical potential of the ecclesiastical/secular elites, but it may also already mirror the identiy of other social groups during the evolution of medieval cities: more and more guilds take over the traditional mecenatic functions of the nobility by financing precious musical manuscripts whose illuminations show the city and formulate its identity as the chants recorded here do likewise. The course presents these and other examples in a selection of case studies from the nordic countries and continental Europe, beginning with the Carolingian involvement in ecclesiastical music up to the role of the nobility in the musical culture of Northern Italian courts during the Renaissance.
Learning outcome
The course begins with an ntroduction into basical historical and musicological concepts. In a second step representative examples will lead to an overview about rituals in the context of political communication 800-1500 with special emphasis on the role of music.
Learning methods and activities
Students are required to deliver a short paper.
Compulsory assignments
- Essay
Recommended previous knowledge
General overview about historical basics between 800-1500.
Required previous knowledge
None.
Course materials
Excerpts of relevant publications will be used during seminary.
Subject areas
- History
- Cultural History
- The History of Art
- Latin
- Comparative Literature
- History of the Middle Ages
- Music History
- Music Pedagogy Subjects
- Music Theory
- Musicology
- Comparative Religion
- Theatre Studies
- Music Performance Studies