Ethnomusicology | Università degli Studi di Milano Statale

A.Y. 2020/2021

Max ECTS

Overall hours

SSD

L-ART/08

Language

Italian

Included in the following degree programmes

Studies in Cultural Heritage (Classe L-1)-Enrolled from 2017/2018

Human Science of Enviroment, Landscape and Terrritory (Classe L-6)-Enrolled from 2017/2018

Philosophical Sciences-Enrolled from 2020/2021

Learning objectives

The course aims to introduce ethnomusicology as a discipline, its methods, and the main steps of its historical development. Furthermore, the monographic topics discussed each year provide an opportunity to deepen the study of some relevant musical practices.
The course also has a more general objective to develop students' ability in listening and understanding musical practices coming from non-European cultures an from European folk and folkloric traditions.

Expected learning outcomes

At the end, the students will have acquired basic knowledge of ethnomusicology, with particular reference to the monographic topic discussed each academic year.

Lesson period: Second semester

Lessons timetable

Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi

Exams calendar

Single course

This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.

Search a single course

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible

Scaldaferri Nicola

Lesson period

Second semester

In case the health emergency should protract, classes will take place through Teams, and supported by Ariel.
Students will find information regarding classroom access (live or online), potential changes in the programme and variation in the reference material (bibliography, etc.) in the course's website on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the 2nd semester.
If the exams in the way described in the Syllabus should not manageable because of the emergency, the exams may take place online, with modalities that will be communicated on the Ariel teaching platform at the end of the course.

Course syllabus

The Music of the "Other"s. Musical practices and cultural contexts

The course aims to deal with the main issues in the stud of Ethnomusicology, in particular focusing on the relationship between musical practices and the specificity of cultural contexts, and analyzing some relevant cases.
The course includes three parts (A, B and C).
Part A is a general introduction to the history and research methods of Ethnomusicology; attention will be paid to audiovisual techniques that make possible to document and study musical practices, both in the European and in the extra European area.
Part B will deal with research in some areas of sub-Saharan Africa, which has been one of the main field of investigation. Specific attention will be paid to the film on musical practices in Ivory Coast and Ghana made by Hugo Zemp and Steven Feld, and to the analysis of Simha Arom about polyphony and and polyrhythm.
Part C will deal with some areas of southern Italy: already a topic of research promoted after World War II by Ernesto De Martino with Diego Carpitella, which helped to reveal the specificities of local folkloric practices, starting with those linked to the rites of tarantism and the rural world.

Prerequisites for admission

The course is mainly for the students of Cultural Heritage Sciences and other three-year degrees. It does not require specific prerequisites; however, basic knowledge of elements of musical language and cultural anthropology can be helpful.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons. Viewing, listening and commenting on audiovisual materials.

Teaching Resources

Parts A and B are required for the 6 cfu esam, while for the 9 cfu exam is required also part C.

PART A
-Anthology of texts and audiovisual materials presented during the lessons and available on Ariel at the beginning of the lessons.
Nicola Scaldaferri, Due ritratti dal Ghana, Squilibri, Roma 2013, con DVD.
Mikaela Minga-Nicola Scaldaferri (a cura), Spanja Pipa. La canzone urbana di Korça, Squilibri, Roma 2015, con CD.

PART B
-Anthology of texts and audiovisual materials presented during the lessons and available on Ariel at the beginning of the lessons.

PART C
-Anthology of texts and audiovisual materials presented during the lessons and available on Ariel at the beginning of the lessons.
Nicola Scaldaferri-Stefano Vaja. Nel paese dei cupa cupa. Roma, Squilibri. New edition, in preparation.

Assessment methods and Criteria

The exam takes place orally about the topics presented during the course, the bibliography and the audiovisual materials in the program. 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 develope personal interpretative perspectives; the consistency of terminological expression.
If the health situation allows it, there may be partial checks during the lessons. 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 course instructor, according with the guidelines of the competent Helpdesk.

Unita' didattica A

L-ART/08 - ETHNOMUSICOLGY - University credits: 3

Lessons: 20 hours

Unita' didattica B

L-ART/08 - ETHNOMUSICOLGY - University credits: 3

Lessons: 20 hours

Unita' didattica C

L-ART/08 - ETHNOMUSICOLGY - University credits: 3

Lessons: 20 hours

Professor(s)

Scaldaferri Nicola

Web site

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

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