Culture - How Traditional Songs shaped Italian Identity
Course aims
This programme enables learners to develop their individual skills, talents and interests in cultural study of music. By listening to traditional music and reading original lyrics, students will learn how songs have formed an integral part of the daily life of Italians and during times of upheavals, e.g. daily routine, wars and mass emigrations. Learners will also appreciate how the interconnection between music and dialects has generated a heritage with distinctive musical and singing styles.
Learning outcomes
- instruments, singing styles, dialects and regional identities /vs/ Italian language
- songs of love and courting
- songs about Italian Unification, songs remembering WW1 and the Italian Resistance Movement during the later years of World War II
- work songs (e.x rice-field workers, wheel barrow workers, the anthem of the Italian Labour Party (XIX century), protest songs about Fiat, etc)
- songs and mass emigration at the end of the XIX century
Who is the course for?
This is a course for those who want to discover more about Italian culture and history with a novel musical approach. By approaching Italian culture through the medium of music learners will have the opportunity to consider why people make music the way that they do, particularly the social processes involved in music-making.
Do I need any knowledge, skills or qualifications?
An understanding of Italian language, although helpful, is not required as full linguistic interpretation will be presented.
Will I gain any qualifications?
No.
How will I learn?
In very enjoyable and stimulating sessions you will learn by a variety of methods:
- Group discussions
- Lectures
- Listening to traditional music
- Reading original musical lyrics
- Hand-outs with music - sheets
What could this course lead to?
This course could be a good platform for further study.
What materials or equipment will I need to provide?
Note pad, pen and maybe a ring binder to put your hand-outs in.
