Undergraduate Course: Italian by Heart: Love Songs from Dante to De André (ELCI10035)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Through a comparative study of love songs from Dante to contemporary singer-songwriter Fabrizio De André, this option course offers an introduction to the major Italian poetic forms for music (canzone, sonnet, ballata, madrigal, canzonetta). Please note that assessment includes the performance of a poem learned by heart. |
| Course description |
The course is taught in 2-hour seminars over 10 weeks, and it is divided in two parts. In the first part, 'Forms and Features', some of the major Italian poetic forms for music (canzone, sonnet, ballata, madrigal, canzonetta) will be introduced, analysed, and discussed in class. Each seminar will develop a critical focus on one of these poetic forms with a comparative study of their evolution from medieval songs to opera and 20th-century popular music. Literary study will be connected to a broader interdisciplinary framework to address a series of key issues in cultural representation, translation, genre and gender throughout the Italian tradition of love songs. In the second part of the course, 'Presentations and Performances', students will present and perform one poem from a given selection. Presentations and performances will receive formative feedback and will be marked as part of the coursework. The final weeks will be devoted to the discussion of the essays, which will be individually agreed and all comparative in nature.
|
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students must have completed two years of Italian Language at a University level. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 10 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Presentation and performance of a poem: 30% (overall) of the final mark.
Essay: 2,500 words, 70% of the final mark.
Please note: this course includes an assessed performative component. |
| Feedback |
Performances and presentations will receive formative feedback and will be marked as part of the coursework. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and a critical understanding of the primary literature related to this course.
- Apply analytical skills to course materials and use research skills associated with the discipline.
- Engage with the primary literature and support arguments with critical close reading.
- Exercise autonomy in research-related activities and initiative in working with others.
- Present and perform texts related to this course.
|
Reading List
Essential literature:
Dante Alighieri, Donne ch'avete intelletto d'amore.
--- , Tanto gentile e tanto onesta pare.
--- , A ciascun'alma presa e gentil core.
Guido Cavalcanti, Donna me priega.
Francesco Petrarca, Voi ch'ascoltate in rime sparse il suono.
--- , Chiare fresche et dolci acque.
--- , Non al suo amante più Dïana piacque.
Francesco Landini, Amor mi fa cantar.
Lorenzo de' Medici, Canzona di Bacco.
Poliziano, Ballata delle rose.
Gaspara Stampa, Voi, ch'ascoltate in queste meste rime.
Maddalena Casulana, Morir non può il mio core.
Giulio Caccini, Amarilli, mia bella.
Francesca Caccini, Ch'amor sia nudo.
Claudio Monteverdi, Non havea Febo ancora.
Lorenzo Da Ponte, Voi che sapete che cos¿è amor.
Metastasio, Ch'io mai vi possa lasciar d¿amare.
Farizio De André, La canzone di Marinella.
--- , Il sogno di Maria.
--- , Valzer per un amore.
--- , La canzone di Barbara.
--- , Al ballo mascherato.
--- , Ottocento.
--- , Un malato di cuore.
--- , Verranno a chiederti del nostro amore.
--- , Hotel Supramonte.
Further reading:
P.G. Beltrami, Gli strumenti della poesia (2012).
I. Bonomi, Il docile idioma. L'italiano lingua per musica (1998).
C. Cosi and F. Ivaldi (eds), Fabrizio De André. Cantastorie fra parole e musicai (2011)
V. Cox, Women's Writing in Italy 1400-1650 (2008).
A. Einstein, The Italian Madrigal (1949).
P. Fabbri, Metro e canto nell'opera italiana (2007).
N. Gardini, Com'è fatta una poesia? (2007).
G. Guastella and Ma. Marrucci (eds), La canzone dal Medioevo a De André (2011).
J. Haar, Essays on Italian Poetry and Music in the Renaissance, 1350-1600 (1986).
S. La Via, Poesia per musica e musica per poesia (2006).
I. Marc and S. Green (eds), The Singer-Songwriter in Europe: Paradigms, Politics and Place (2016)
L. McGuire Jennings, Senza Vestimenta: The Literary Tradition of Trecento Song (2014).
L. Tibaldi, La poesia per musica di Fabrizio De André (2005) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will develop graduate skills in all four clusters of ability: a) research and inquiry; b) personal and intellectual autonomy; c) communication d) personal effectiveness. In particular students will:
A) be able to exercise critical judgement in creating new understanding of the topic; be ready to discuss and ask key questions; be able to critically assess existing understanding and the limitations of their own knowledge and recognise the need to regularly challenge all knowledge; search for, evaluate and use information to develop their knowledge and understanding; recognise the importance of reflecting on their learning experiences and be aware of their own learning style;
B) be open to new ideas, methods and ways of thinking; be creative and imaginative thinkers; be independent learners; be able to make decisions; be intellectually curious;
C) make effective use of oral and written means to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding; seek and value open feedback to inform genuine self-awareness;
D) have the confidence to make presentations based on their understandings and their personal and intellectual autonomy; be able to work effectively with others. |
| Keywords | Italian Poetry,Canzone,Dante,De André,Opera,Popular Music |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Davide Messina
Tel:
Email: D.Messina@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Fiona Jack
Tel: (0131 6)50 3635
Email: f.jack@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage