Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description



CODE MSP3179

 
TITLE Nineteenth-Century Maltese Music

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Music Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit explores the artistic and social contexts for Maltese sacred and secular music during the 19th century. It examines the main composers and the changing concepts of style, form and performance practice.

Study-unit Aims:

The student will demonstrate a critical understanding of the stylistic development of Maltese music during the 19th century.

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Relate key dates and events to the development of Maltese music history within the given time frame;
- Discuss key concepts regarding the intellectual and artistic culture of the period; and
- Identify the works of the principal composers and the styles and forms of the Maltese 19th century.

2. Skills:

At the end of the study-unit the learner will have mastered the following skills:
- To relate key dates and events to the development of Maltese music history within the given time frame;
- To discuss key concepts regarding the intellectual and artistic culture of the period;
- Identify the works of the principal Maltese composers of the 19th century and the styles and forms informing their music.

3. Competence:

At the end of the study-unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:
- Understand and evaluate the main concepts and styles of Maltese sacred and secular music of the 19th century;
- Identify and classify the major composers of the period according to their musical style.

4. Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course the learner will be able to broadly contextualise the emergence and development of sacred and secular music in Malta during the 19th century.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Aquilina, Frederick. Benigno Zerafa (1726-1804) and the Neapolitan Galant Style (Boydell & Brewer, 2016).
- Azzopardi J, Bruni, F, and Vella Bondin, J. The Nani Composers (XVIII-XX Cent.) – A Historical Assessment and a Catalogue of their Works (Malta, 2007).
- Bruni, F. Musica sacra a Malta: Le cappelle della cattedrale di S. Paolo e della concattedrale di S. Giovanni Battista nel XIX secolo (Malta, 1993).
- Bruni, F. The Vella Composers (USA, Malta, 1997).

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Study-unit: MSP2178

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

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

 
LECTURER/S Mariella Cassar

 

 
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 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.


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