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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "MUS 102"
COURSE NAME: "Italian Opera"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring Semester 2012
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Carpene Aaron
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 13:00-14:15
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
12.00-13.00 MW
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Opera is perhaps one of Italy's most important cultural innovations, continuing to fascinate the world since its birth over four hundred years ago. The aim of the course is to examine the birth and development of opera in Italy from the late Renaissance to Contemporary Italian opera. The inherent problems in the union of music, text and drama in this complex music form are explored in the solutions that the most important operatic composers have provided. The aim of the course is then not only to understand and appreciate a story set to music, but the different and varied aspects of opera, its creation and production.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
History of Italian opera from its birth in the late Renaissance, its development in the 17th century, the Golden Age of opera in the 18th century, the Belcanto operas, G. Verdi, the Verismo movement, 20th century and contemporary opera. Form and structure in opera, relations between text and music, the world of singers and the characters they portray, historic study of the operatic orchestra, notions of opera production: staging, sets, costumes and the Italian opera house.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
An understanding of Italian opera and the ability to distinguish stylistic trends, an insight into the problems of combining music and text in dramatic representation and the solutions found by the Italian operatic school throughout historic periods.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Italian Opera | David Kimbell | Cambridge University Press | 0521235332 / 0521466431 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| A Short History of Opera | Donald J. Grout | | 0-231-11958-5 | | |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Assignment work found on the course site www.moodle.johncabot.edu | Short answer questions | 25% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.
A: Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
B: This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.
There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
C: This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
D: This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.
Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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| Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
| | Introduction: Opera, an Italian phenomenon | | | |
| | The origins of Opera: the ancient Greeks, Medieval drama | | | |
| | Words and music: the aspirations of the Florentine Camerata dei Bardi. The first operas: Dafne and Euridice. | | | |
| | Orfeo, Favola in Musica – a story set to music by Claudio Monteverdi | | | |
| | Developments in Rome: 1631 – Sant’Alessio, an opera by Stefano Landi, libretto by Giulio Rospigliosi. | | | |
| | The Venetian Opera scene: Opera goes public. Monteverdi’s masterpieces. | | | |
| | On a less serious note – The Neapolitan Opera Buffa | | | |
| | Operatic industry in the early 1700s: Antonio Vivaldi | | | |
| | Operatic singers: the birth of the Diva , the role of the Castrato. | | | |
| | Opera Seria - the Eighteenth Century | | | |
| | The 1800s: the genius of Giacomo Rossini – opera buffa Il Barbiere di Siviglia, opera seria Tancredi.
Mid-term exam | | | |
| | The Bel Canto period: Gaetano Donizzeti, Vincenzo Bellini | | | |
| | Politics and opera: Nabucco by Giusppe Verdi | | | |
| | The Verdi hegemony: Rigoletto, La Traviata, Il Trovatore | | | |
| | Giacomo Puccini: La Bohème, Tosca, Madame Butterfly | | | |
| | The Verismo movement: Cavalleria Rusitcana by P. Mascagni, I Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo | | | |
| | Review | | | |
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