Course: Music Paleography

« Back
Course title Music Paleography
Course code KMU/THZPK
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 6
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course unspecified
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Spáčilová Jana, doc. Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. General Issues The definition and specification of the subject field of the discipline of theory of music notation, basic concepts, the definition of music palaeography and of its place in the system of musical disciplines, main phases of the development of the discipline: the tractate production during the European Middle Ages, the Solesmes Restoration, university research, synthesis in the 20th century. 2. Writing and Notation The development of writing from pictographic systems to sound systems, object writing, pictograms, determinatives, ideograms, phonetisation, phonograms, analogies in the development of writing and notation, diastematisation. 3. Cheironomy and Ekphonetic Notation The essence and function of cheironomy, used symbols, spheres using cheironomy in the past and today. The essence of ekphonetic notation, the regional characteristic, ancient Greek prosodic symbols. 4. Greek Notation The differentiation of the instrumental and vocal notation, the history of both types, the typology of symbols, relationships with Greek music theory and their notation characteristic. 5. Medieval Letter Systems and Their Use The Daseian notation, the interval notation, litterae significative, Boethius' notation, diastematisation, types of application of writing to a music recording: independently - in connection with neumatic notation, the notation significance of solmization. 6. Latin Neumes The definition of the concept, developmental branches according to regions, the type classification of basic graphic types of neumatic notation: virga, jacent and punctum, main milestones in the development of the research of the neumatic notation. 7. Choral Notation The definition of the concept by Hutter and authors of German school. Graphical transformations of neumatic symbols, the system of symbols and their phraseology. The development and types of stave and keys. Notation systems of chants and the specifics in the Czech territory. 8. Syllabic Notation The historical definition, symbol characteristic - inference of notation symbols from quadrat choral notation, the form of conductus and sources and the contemporary reflection on the syllabic notation, rules of transcription and their use illustrated on concrete examples. 9. Modal Notation The historical definition of both types, symbol characteristic, the differentiation of concepts: syllabic and melismatic notation, organa dupla notation, motet notation; the identification of basic composition techniques of Notre-Dame polyphony and their notation writing, sources and the contemporary reflection on modal notation, rules of transcription and their use illustrated on concrete examples. 10. Pre-Franconian and Franconian Notation The historical definition of both types, symbol characteristic, sources and contemporary reflection, the pre-Franconian and Franconian notations, used mensural relationships and ways of their identification, rules of transcription and their use illustrated on concrete examples. 11. Black Mensural Notation The historical definition of both types, symbol characteristic, the differentiation of Italian and French notation, the principles of reading ligatures, sources and the contemporary reflection on black mensural notation, rules of transcription and their use illustrated on concrete examples. 12. White Mensural Notation The historical definition of both types, symbol characteristic, sources and the contemporary reflection on white mensural notation, notation phenomena of 'color' and 'proportion', rules of transcription and their use illustrated on concrete examples.

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming)
  • Attendace - 12 hours per semester
  • Semestral Work - 50 hours per semester
  • Preparation for the Exam - 50 hours per semester
  • Homework for Teaching - 38 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The course introduces into questions of notation of music. It gives a survey of the most important notational systems of European music, whereas students should gain the basic ability to transcribe example facsimiles into modern notation.
Acquired knowledge: - the student understands notation principles used in different historical periods and in the present - the student knows the historical development of notation systems Acquired skills: - the student is able to identify historical notation types from antiquity to the Renaissance when given specific examples - the student recognises the neumatic notation record according to regional provenance - the student is able to transcribe an uncomplicated notation record of Medieval polyphonic music Acquired qualifications: - the student orientates themselves in the historical development of notation record of music - the student understands the context of notation record of music and of historical musical forms and genres - the student knows and can apply the rules of transcription of chosen ancient and Medieval notations
Prerequisites
unspecified

Assessment methods and criteria
Mark, Seminar Work

Recommended literature
  • Apel, Willi. (1962). Die Notation der polyphonen Musik 900-1600, VEB Breitkopf - Härtel Musikverlag. Leipzig.
  • Besseler, Heinrich - Gülke, Peter. (1973). Schriftbild der mehrstimmigen Musik, Musikgeschichte in Bildern. Band III/5, Leipzig l973. Leipzig.
  • Rybarič, Richard. (1982). Vývoj európskeho notopisu, Opus Bratislava 1982 (s. 7-125). Besseler, Heinrich - Gülke, Peter.
  • Stäblein, Bruno. (1975). Schriftbild der einstimmigen Musik. Musikgeschichte in Bildern, Band III,Lieferung 4, Leipzig 1975. Leipzig.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester