Syllabus
--- Might be modified according to real knowledge of frequentants ---
A collection of discussed topics is chosen with the purpose of illustrating the progress of music culture in the Czech Lands and middle Europe as well, including the dialogues with other cultures. The course will pay particular attention to those questions which are connected to the unique environment of Prague and its cultural history, such as: Mozart and his „Prague-consolation“, Gluck´s youth, Jewish music or a local tradition of music instrument making (with a visit of the Czech Music Museum and its collection of musical instruments) etc.
Annotation
In both modern and ancient world, music have become fundamental social and cultural phenomenon by means of which people „construct“ artificial ideas about the self, society, nation, religion, the past and others. Studying the practice and discourse of music means to deal with a symbolic representation of the world, with an experience of a fictional environment, just like art, ritual, and literature...
The course is not about the experience and practice of music as such, but has a strong concentration on social and cultural change in a historical perspective. It deals broadly with European - and partially even non-European – music history, taking a lot of its „case studies“ such as: „J. S. Bach and his own universe“, Why does the music „speak“ italian?, „The attractive world of POP-music since the time of Troubadours“, „Hidden folk music in the artificial music of the 20th century“ etc.