Historical Research Flashcards
Bibliography
The collection and citation of all sources relating to specific field of research, defined by certain parameters.
“Music Theory from Boethius to Zarlino,” “Music Theory from Zarlino to Schenker,” 2 volumes, by Damschroader/Williams
What is Historical Research?
Focus on documentation and context of the work of art
Bibliography/Un-idolized biography
Ex. “The Changing Image of Beethoven: A Study in Mythmaking,” by Alessandra Comini; “Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions,” by Richard Taruskin, 2 volumes (culture oriented); “Berlioz by David Cairns 2 volumes (a narrative, litertary style); “Haydn” H.C. Robins-Landon 5 volumes (document oriented)
Oral History: interviews
Ex: “Copland” by AAron Copland and Vivian Perlis. She talked to people who knew Copland! “Charles Ives Remembered” by Vivian Perlis.
Text Criticism: (same as source studies, but for text)
identify all of the earliersyt sources (and most accurate) to a particular text and compare them and understand who copied who, who got something wrong, what is the aerliest source even if it was copied at a later date… etc.
Ex: treatises of the Middle Ages and the renaissance (not the actual music).
Text Translations: use text criticism first to decide what is the best (earliest)… then translate it
EX. “Robertus de Handlo: THE RULES and Johanes Hanoys: THE SUMMA” by Peter Lefferts (A new critical text and translation) or “Sextus Empiricus: Against the Musicians” by Denise Greaves.
Source Studies: (same as text criticism but is applied to scores!)
Composer’s autographed score, first editions, and composer’s sketches (Composer is the authority of the work) (usually published in large collection sets…m1, m2, m3)
- A Scholarly/Critical Edition. (comes with critical score, and critical commentary)
- V. Bellini’s la Sonnambula… has the scores and the commentary by Zoppelli
Iconography: (pictures)
a very old instruments for example, any visual representation.
EX: Imago Musicae Journal, “Music in Art: International Journal for Music Iconography” Call# ML 1.R395x vol.35 no. 1/2 (multi-volueme collected set of iconographic studies)
Organology: (researching the instrument)
history of the makers, mechanical changes, etc.
EX. Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society or the Galpin Society Journal; “Les facteurs d’instruments de musique a paris au 19e siecle” by Malou Haine.
Performance Practices
Tells how to p;lay a baroque piece in the way it was played in the Baroque age (on the same instruments) in Historical context.
Periodization: Break down history into periods, or eras of music (baroque, classical, romantic, 20th century) Break down of Composer’s music (Ex:: Stravinsky, ballet, serialism, neoclassical)
“A History of the Oratorio: The Oratorio in the Classical Era” vol. 3 by Howard E. Smither
“Stravinsky on Stage” by Shouvaloff, a look at Stravinsky’s ballet compositions
Gender Studies (sexual orientation) Female composers, Male composers
EX: “Women in Texas music” by Kathleen Hudson or “Black Women and Music,” by Eileen Hayes and Linda Williams, or “Unsun,” (A history of Women in American Music) by Christine Ammer; Girls Rock!: Fifty Years of Women Making Music by Mina Carson
Genre Studies: Breaks down the genre into historical/stylistic periods
“A History of the Oratorio” by Howard E. Smither, or, “A History of Film Music” by Mervyn Cooke, “French Syphonies” (all in French) by Barry Brok (his dissertation).
Notation Studies: how to interpret notation in a geographic location, or in an older age. How notation has evolved depending on time period/location.
? Haha. Gotcha. :)
Reception History: study of how works are received in society. Ex: the resurrection/reception of Bach’s music (Mendelssohn)
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