Organology
Code
711021081
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Ciências Musicais
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Luísa Cymbron
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
After completing the course successfully the student should be able to :
a) Be familiar with the main conceptual, methodological and terminological questions in the field of Organology;
b) Apply the criteria of the systematical classification of musical instruments defined by Hornbostel and Sachs;
c) Recognize the sound identity of various types of idiophones, membranophones, cordophones, aerophones and electrophones;
d) Be familiar with the main musical instruments from Greco-Roman Antiquity to the present, their history, social function, morphology, construction and relation to musical practice;
e) Conduct bibliographical research and prepare critical readings of articles and other texts of an organological character.
Prerequisites
None
Subject matter
1. Introduction: Organology, its study, object and methodologies. Attempts at systematic classification of instruments from the Antiquity to the 20th century. The formation of the great instrument collections and the classifications of Mahillon and Hornbostel/Sachs (1914). The new databases: the MIMO project.
2. From Greco-Roman Antiquity to the Middle Ages: history, sources, problems of characterization and terminology of musical instruments.
3. The Renaissance and the proliferation of new instruments. Tunings. The organ. The keyboard cordophones and their mechanisms.
4. The 17th and 18th centuries and the establishment of the instruments at the basis of the modern orchestra. Cristofori, the invention of the pianoforte and its spread after 1770.
5. The 19th century as a period of massification and the changes it brought to instruments. Mechanical instruments.
6. The scientific and technological changes of the 20th century and the appearance of electrophones.
Bibliography
Campbell, D. M. & altri (2004). Musical Instruments, History, Technology, and Performance of Instruments of Western Music. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hagel, S. (2009). Ancient Greek Music. A New Technicak History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Henrique, L. (2004). Instrumentos musicais. Lisboa. FCG (3ª ed.).
Kartomi, M. (1990). On Concepts and Classifications of Musical Instruments. Chicago: Chicago University Press.
Mathiesen, T. (1999). Apollos Lyre. Greek Music and Music Theory in Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
Michels, U. (2003, 2007). Atlas de Música, 2 vols. Lisboa: Gradiva.
Montagu, J. (1976). The World of Medieval and Renaissance Musical Instruments. Londres: David & Charles.
Montagu, J. (1979), The World of Baroque and Classical Musical Instruments. New York: The overlook press
Montagu, J. (1981), The World of Romantic and Modern Musical Instruments. Londres: David & Charles.
Teaching method
The course is divided into 60% theoretical and 40% practical classes which are established in a plan where their respective subjects are defined beforehand. Theoretical classes are dedicated to the exposition of the subjects defined in the programmatic contents, with space allowed for discussion and questions by the students. Systematic use is made of Powerpoint presentations with images, videos and music recordings. Considering the specificity of certain subjects, the collaboration of 3 other teachers is included (10 hours).
Practical classes are reserved for the critical reading of texts, practical demonstrations of instruments, study visits and evaluation moments.
Evaluation method
Evaluation is divided in two different moments: a written test (usually taken in mid-semester, 50%) and an oral test (at the end, 50%). In the latter moment students discuss the questions presented to them on the basis of images, schemes and musical instruments they are shown.