Module: Music History & Culture A

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Music History & Culture A
Module Code	MPA1040 (ITS: MC225)
Faculty	Theology, Philosophy & Music	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

Students will assimilate important concepts, periods, and styles in Western Art Music from the medieval, Baroque and Classical eras through the study of selected works. Skills and understanding in historical musicology will be developed through active-listening tasks, score analysis, and contextual study. Key issues in contemporary scholarly discourse will be addressed, such as the under-representation of women in music history, historically informed performance, and colonialism and the canon.

Learning Outcomes

1. Distinguish between and analytically discuss music from various stylistic periods in Western Art Music (focusing on medieval, Baroque, and Classical), while appreciating the failings of this conventional periodisation.
2. Use appropriate primary and secondary sources to situate works within their historical context
3. Reflect on key issues in discourse of historical musicology, its performance and pedagogy
4. Demonstrate deep engagement with this repertoire via active-listening tasks, analysis, and performance
5. Understand the educational significance of music history and analysis consistent with the requirements of the post-primary music curriculum.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Active listening, discussion, performance
Assignment Completion	50	Essay and Critical Listening Task
Independent Study	51	Reading, listening, performing, analysis
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	20766	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Seán Doherty	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Essay on a topic in historical musicology from medieval, Baroque, or Classical eras	60%	n/a
Practical/skills evaluation	Critical listening task	40%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Concepts
Periodisation, narratives and representation in music history, colonialism and the canon; historically informed performance

Styles and Genres
The medieval era, Gregorian chant and Hildegard of Bingen; Church polyphony, Palestrina; the Baroque, Barbara Strozzi; the Italian concerto style, Vivaldi; opera seria and oratorio, Handel; the cantata, Bach; the Classical style, Haydn and Mozart; the emergence of Romanticism, Beethoven.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

J.P.E. Harper-Scott: 2009, An introduction to music studies, CUP,
R. J. Stove: 0, Student's Guide to Music History, ISI,
J. Peter Burkholder, Donald Jay Grout, Claude V. Palisca: 2010, A history of western music, 8th, W. W. Norton & Company,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None