Course content

This course offers new perspectives on the continuously relevant questions: Why is music important? What role does it play in our society? It posits music as a relational and cultural phenomenon, drawing on perspectives in the fields of music history, ethnomusicology, music philosophy, music sociology and the music and health.

Based on a new book, Music, Encounter, Togetherness (2024), by Nicholas Cook, one of the leading musicologists of our time, the course opens up new ways of thinking about music. Cook moves freely between Paul Simon, choirs for homeless people, free jazz, string quartets, Aboriginal musical traditions, from the 13th century to the present day, from China and Australia, through Mozart and Debussy, to Peter Gabriel and the rubab player Homayun Sakhi from Afghanistan. The common thread throughout is the perspective of "relationships"; the relationship between musicians, between musicians and listeners, and between the listener and the music.

Questions about how music can promote musical, social, and cultural community will be discussed, as well as how music is born out of various forms of community and interaction.

To offer a critical perspective also on Cook, the course draws threads back to Christopher Small’s concept of "musicking" from 1998, as well as David Elliott’s use of the same term (without the "k"), "musicing", and Hesmondhalgh’s critique of these. Through the relational perspective and viewing music as a process, the course also puts traditional musicology as individualistic and work-oriented in a critical perspective.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

Candidates who successfully complete MUSV3152 can:

• explain and critically discuss the significance and development of the concept of musicking
• account for and provide examples of what a relational perspective on music can entail
• give at least three examples of transcultural musical encounters and discuss the ethics surrounding them

Skills:

Candidates who successfully complete MUSV3152 can:

• make independent and critical reflections on music from a relational perspective
• express their knowledge in a coherent and convincing manner, both orally and in writing

Learning methods and activities

The course consists of lectures and seminars with active participation, completion of continuous written assignments and group assignments for reflection and in-depth study.

This involves submitting at least one written assignment between lectures and a short oral presentation (10-15 minutes) on a topic of your choice within the subject.

The teaching is mandatory, and requires a minimum of 80% attendance.

A 7.5 credit course corresponds to approximately 650 pages of course literature. It is expected that students read the course literature and participate in discussions at lectures/seminar.

Compulsory assignments

• Satisfactory participation in compulsory instruction
• Oral presentation
• Assignments between lectures

Specific conditions