Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MSP2178

 
TITLE Eighteenth-Century Maltese Music

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Music Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit outlines the history of eighteenth-century Maltese sacred and secular music. It explores the artistic merits of the principal Maltese composers by analysing their biographies and key compositions within cultural, historical and geographical contexts. The stylistic developments and compositional techniques of vocal and instrumental music are examined through the study of edited works, autograph manuscripts, video and audio resources.

Study-unit Aims:

The study-unit aims to introduce students to eighteenth-century Maltese sacred and secular music by analysing the principal composers and key moments within cultural, historical and geographical contexts.

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a) broadly contextualise the emergence and development of sacred and secular music in Malta during the eighteenth century;
b) relate key dates and events to the development of Maltese music history by discussing key concepts regarding the intellectual and artistic culture of the period;
c) become familiar with the principal musical works of Maltese composers of the period;
d) demonstrate a critical understanding of the stylistic development of Maltese music during the eighteenth century.

Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a) evaluate the main concepts and styles of Maltese sacred and secular music of the eighteenth century;
b) identify and classify the principal Maltese composers of the period according to his/her musical style;
c) evaluate the main compositional concepts and processes of his/her works by analysing the form and style informing his/her music.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts

- Aquilina, Frederick. 2016. Benigno Zerafa (1726-1804) and the Neapolitan Galant Style (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press).
- Azzopardi, J. 1988. ‘La Cappella Musicale della Cattedrale di Malta e i suoi rapporti con la Sicilia’, in Daniele Ficola (ed.), La musica sacra in Sicilia tra rinascimento e barocco: Atti del convegno di Caltagirone 10-12 dicembre 1985 (Palermo: S. F. Flaccovio), pp. 47-67.
- Bruni, F. 2001. Musica e musicisti alla cattedrale di Malta nei secoli XVI-XVIII (Msida: Malta University Press).

Supplementary Readings

- Azzopardi, J. and Sansone, M. 2001. Italian and Maltese Music in the Archives at the Cathedral Museum of Malta (San Gwann: P.E.G.)
- Bruni, F. 1993. Musica sacra a Malta: Le cappelle della cattedrale di S. Paolo e della concattedrale di S. Giovanni Battista nel XIX secolo (Marsa: P.E.G.)

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (1 Hour) SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Frederick Aquilina

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit