Performers (back) in the Spotlight
Course offered fall 2024
Teaching institution: mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
Course Tutor: Elisabeth Reisinger
Contact email: reisinger-e@mdw.ac.at
Course level: Advanced Undergraduate, Postgraduate
Credit size: 2 ECTS
Maximum number of students: 20
Performers (back) in the Spotlight
COURSE DESCRIPTION
For a long time, the thinking and writing of music history has focused on the written “work” and its creator. But what if we shift the perspective and conceptualize music as a social sonic event?
In this course, we will focus on the people who make music sound: the performers. We will approach music history by examining their role in processes of musical creation and repertoire formation, as well as their impact on the distribution and reception of compositions. We will explore how this offers a more diverse and nuanced picture of the various individuals that have shaped music history.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Students will gain an overview of the field based on current research. They will acquire skills in the differentiated and critical comprehension of the various contents, as well as in working with literature and historical sources. The use of digital resources will be particularly integrated. Creative approaches to the assignments are explicitly encouraged