Transcultural Organology
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course will present the principles, the sources, and the methods of organology, broadly understood as a field of study in which musical instruments from different cultures are approached through different research perspectives. The course has two main goals: 1. learning history and technology of preeminent Western musical instruments and perceiving their historic and cultural value; 2. understanding the the role of organology as a research perspective in ethnomusicology, focusing on specific topics which are particularly relevant because of their interdisciplinary breadth (instrumental idiomaticity, audiovisual narration, instrument-voice and instrument-space relationship).
Expected learning outcomes
Participants will be able to identify western musical instruments properly and will learn the historical reasons for their birth, transformation, and disappearing. Students will also explore the impact of organology in the ethnomusicological discourse, and the role of musical instruments - understood as products and objects of material and sonic practices - in the musical heritage of different global cultures, and their value as objects in researches with a strong interdisciplinary character.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Title of the course: "Insturmental ensembles as acoustic and cultural identity". A detailed program will be provided on ARIEL at the starting of the class, in the second semester.
Prerequisites for admission
The course requires basic knowledge acquired during the previous three years in the fields of history of music, ethnomusicology, cultural anthropology.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons. Seminar.
Viewing, listening and commenting on audiovisual materials.
Viewing, listening and commenting on audiovisual materials.
Teaching Resources
Material will be available on ARIEL at the beginning of the class.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The following points will be assessed: the ability to critically re-elaborate the topics discussed in the course; the knowledge of the contents in the program; the ability to discuss and create connections and develop personal interpretative perspectives; the consistency of terminological expression.
Students, both attending and non-attending, are required to submit a written paper, to be agreed upon with the instructor (approximately 5,000 words). The paper will be assessed according to the following criteria: 1. Relevance to the topics discussed during the course. 2. Originality of the chosen topic and approach.3. Analytical competence and depth of interpretation. 4. Formal quality of the written work, including appropriate use of terminology, coherence of argumentation, and accuracy of scholarly documentation. The paper must be submitted to the instructor at least one week before the examination date. The final oral examination will consist of a discussion of the course materials, taking as its starting point the instructor's comments on the written paper.
Further information will be provided at the beginning of the lessons.
The modes of examination for students with physical and/or learning disabilities will need to be agreed with the instructor, according with the guidelines of the competent Helpdesk.
Students, both attending and non-attending, are required to submit a written paper, to be agreed upon with the instructor (approximately 5,000 words). The paper will be assessed according to the following criteria: 1. Relevance to the topics discussed during the course. 2. Originality of the chosen topic and approach.3. Analytical competence and depth of interpretation. 4. Formal quality of the written work, including appropriate use of terminology, coherence of argumentation, and accuracy of scholarly documentation. The paper must be submitted to the instructor at least one week before the examination date. The final oral examination will consist of a discussion of the course materials, taking as its starting point the instructor's comments on the written paper.
Further information will be provided at the beginning of the lessons.
The modes of examination for students with physical and/or learning disabilities will need to be agreed with the instructor, according with the guidelines of the competent Helpdesk.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Office hours can take place in presence during class days after the class; in other period, by appointment. Otherwise, on Teams.
Via Noto 6, 1st floor