Musical Language and its development

The module Musical Language and its development focuses on the relation between instrumental music and human language. Throughout history there have been different views and approaches concerning what a composer/performer is trying to convey or communicate by music, and how that process follows principles and patterns of human language in general. 

The module consists of three sections or blocks:

• music before 1800
• music between 1800-1900
• music after 1900

In each of the sections there will be 8 grouplessons (in "masterclass-like" setting) with students performing, discussing and giving/receiving feedback.

Each section will be introduced with an introductory lesson. In these three lessons the following topics will be covered in (very) general terms:

• General aspects of language and communication 
• The academic discourse concerning music and language
• Specific analogies between language and music connected with the three timeframes of the module, such as Rhetoric, Aesthetics, Criticism, Judging/assessment, personal musical "languages" in the 20th century.

  ---

Music before 1800: Introductory lecture

Music from 1800-1900: Introductory lecture

Music after 1900: Introductory lecture

The assignment (PDF)