- Department: Music
- Module co-ordinator: Information currently unavailable
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
The life and works of Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643) are ideal as a case study in Italian musical patronage: Not only does Monteverdi’s career exemplify the main modes of musical patronage in the late Renaissance and early Baroque—these being the courts, the Church and, after 1637, the new ‘public’ patronage of the opera houses—but, as a composer in the vanguard of current musical developments, his music provides us with the full range of genres and styles for a representative study of the period 1580–1650. This is the period of transition from—what music historians have labelled—the ‘Renaissance’ to the ‘Baroque’ and, using Monteverdi’s music, the important musical developments will be examined. These changes—we should remember—were always subject to, and a result of, the patronage systems in which a composer worked. Monteverdi was undoubtedly a great composer but he could not possibly have functioned as a musician in an individual capacity; his musical experiences, compositions and performances were all directly related to the whims of his employers. Thus, the wider cultural and historical context will be important when examining Monteverdi’s church music, madrigals and operas.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 1 2023-24 |
The life and works of Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643) are ideal as a case study in Italian musical patronage: Not only does Monteverdi’s career exemplify the main modes of musical patronage in the late Renaissance and early Baroque—these being the courts, the Church and, after 1637, the new ‘public’ patronage of the opera houses—but, as a composer in the vanguard of current musical developments, his music provides us with the full range of genres and styles for a representative study of the period 1580–1650. This is the period of transition from—what music historians have labelled—the ‘Renaissance’ to the ‘Baroque’ and, using Monteverdi’s music, the important musical developments will be examined. These changes—we should remember—were always subject to, and a result of, the patronage systems in which a composer worked. Monteverdi was undoubtedly a great composer but he could not possibly have functioned as a musician in an individual capacity; his musical experiences, compositions and performances were all directly related to the whims of his employers. Thus, the wider cultural and historical context will be important when examining Monteverdi’s church music, madrigals and operas.
By the end of the taught part of the module, you should have:
Third years: On completion of the module, in their independent work, students should demonstrate learning outcomes C1-6, C9
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework 4000 Word Essay |
N/A | 100 |
None
An essay of approximately 4000 words on a topic of the student’s choice agreed in tutorial (100%)
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework 4000 Word Essay |
N/A | 100 |
You will receive written feedback in line with standard University turnaround times.
Books
Listening & Useful Scores