The course ‘Aesthetics of Music’ is part of the program in DAMS (BA level) and is included among the complementary training activities. The aim of the course is to provide students with an overview of the contemporary debate on the relation between music and emotions from both a theoretical and an aesthetical perspective. The course will investigate music’s ability to express emotions as well as music’s capacity to arouse emotional reactions in the listener.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to acquire the following skills:
- capacity to read and analyse philosophical sources in the aesthetics of music;
- advanced critical thinking in relation to the relevant debate;
- advanced language and argumentation skills with regard to the topics discussed in class.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to acquire the following skills:
- capacity to read and analyse philosophical sources in the aesthetics of music;
- advanced critical thinking in relation to the relevant debate;
- advanced language and argumentation skills with regard to the topics discussed in class.
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
0. Introduction to the Philosophy of Music
Kivy, Peter. Philosophy of Music: An Introduction. Turin: Einaudi, 2007.
→ Chapter 1
1. Music and Emotion in the Ancient World
Primary texts
Plato, Republic, Book III (398–403) and Book X (595–608).
Aristotle, Politics, Book VIII (esp. 1339a–1342b).
Aristotle, Poetics, Chapter 6 (1449b–1450a).
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica. Bologna: Il Mulino.
→ Chapter VI
2. The Renaissance, the Florentine Camerata, and the Theory of the Affections
Primary texts
Galilei, Vincenzo. Dialogue on Ancient and Modern Music (excerpts).
Caccini, Giulio. Preface to Le nuove musiche.
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter VIII
3. The Eighteenth Century: Music and the Theory of the Passions
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter IX
4. The Nineteenth Century: Expression and Formalism
Primary texts
Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation, Book III, §§50–52 (especially §52).
Hanslick, Eduard. On the Musically Beautiful.
→ Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter X
5. The Twentieth Century: Symbol and Expression
Primary texts
Langer, Susanne K. Philosophy in a New Key.
→ Chapter 8
6. Contemporary Debate on Music and Emotion
Lentini, D. La musica e le emozioni. Percorsi nell’estetica analitica. Milan: Mimesis, 2014.
→ Cap. 1 (Kivy)
→ Cap. 4(Levinson)
→ Cap. 5 (Matravers)
Aristotle. Poetics. Various Italian editions (Laterza, BUR).
Aristotle. Politics. Various Italian editions (Laterza, BUR).
Caccini, Giulio. Le nuove musiche.
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica. Bologna: Il Mulino, 1995.
Galilei, Vincenzo. Dialogue on Ancient and Modern Music.
Hanslick, Eduard. On the Musically Beautiful. Various editions.
Kivy, Peter. Philosophy of music. An Introduction.
Langer, Susanne K. Philosophy in a New Key. Rome: Armando, 1972.
Plato. Republic. Various editions.
Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation. Various editions.
Lentini, D. La musica e le emozioni. Percorsi nell’estetica analitica. Milan: Mimesis, 2014.
Mutuazione: 20710575 Estetica musicale: Musica e Emozioni in DAMS (Discipline delle Arti, della Musica e dello Spettacolo) L-3 R GIOMBINI LISA
Programme
Detailed Course Programme (most of the readings will be provided by the instructor)0. Introduction to the Philosophy of Music
Kivy, Peter. Philosophy of Music: An Introduction. Turin: Einaudi, 2007.
→ Chapter 1
1. Music and Emotion in the Ancient World
Primary texts
Plato, Republic, Book III (398–403) and Book X (595–608).
Aristotle, Politics, Book VIII (esp. 1339a–1342b).
Aristotle, Poetics, Chapter 6 (1449b–1450a).
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica. Bologna: Il Mulino.
→ Chapter VI
2. The Renaissance, the Florentine Camerata, and the Theory of the Affections
Primary texts
Galilei, Vincenzo. Dialogue on Ancient and Modern Music (excerpts).
Caccini, Giulio. Preface to Le nuove musiche.
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter VIII
3. The Eighteenth Century: Music and the Theory of the Passions
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter IX
4. The Nineteenth Century: Expression and Formalism
Primary texts
Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation, Book III, §§50–52 (especially §52).
Hanslick, Eduard. On the Musically Beautiful.
→ Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter X
5. The Twentieth Century: Symbol and Expression
Primary texts
Langer, Susanne K. Philosophy in a New Key.
→ Chapter 8
6. Contemporary Debate on Music and Emotion
Lentini, D. La musica e le emozioni. Percorsi nell’estetica analitica. Milan: Mimesis, 2014.
→ Cap. 1 (Kivy)
→ Cap. 4(Levinson)
→ Cap. 5 (Matravers)
Core Documentation
General BibliographyAristotle. Poetics. Various Italian editions (Laterza, BUR).
Aristotle. Politics. Various Italian editions (Laterza, BUR).
Caccini, Giulio. Le nuove musiche.
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica. Bologna: Il Mulino, 1995.
Galilei, Vincenzo. Dialogue on Ancient and Modern Music.
Hanslick, Eduard. On the Musically Beautiful. Various editions.
Kivy, Peter. Philosophy of music. An Introduction.
Langer, Susanne K. Philosophy in a New Key. Rome: Armando, 1972.
Plato. Republic. Various editions.
Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation. Various editions.
Lentini, D. La musica e le emozioni. Percorsi nell’estetica analitica. Milan: Mimesis, 2014.
Attendance
Attendance is not compulsory but it is highly recommended.Type of evaluation
An oral test is scheduled at the end of the course. teacher profile teaching materials
0. Introduction to the Philosophy of Music
Kivy, Peter. Philosophy of Music: An Introduction. Turin: Einaudi, 2007.
→ Chapter 1
1. Music and Emotion in the Ancient World
Primary texts
Plato, Republic, Book III (398–403) and Book X (595–608).
Aristotle, Politics, Book VIII (esp. 1339a–1342b).
Aristotle, Poetics, Chapter 6 (1449b–1450a).
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica. Bologna: Il Mulino.
→ Chapter VI
2. The Renaissance, the Florentine Camerata, and the Theory of the Affections
Primary texts
Galilei, Vincenzo. Dialogue on Ancient and Modern Music (excerpts).
Caccini, Giulio. Preface to Le nuove musiche.
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter VIII
3. The Eighteenth Century: Music and the Theory of the Passions
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter IX
4. The Nineteenth Century: Expression and Formalism
Primary texts
Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation, Book III, §§50–52 (especially §52).
Hanslick, Eduard. On the Musically Beautiful.
→ Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter X
5. The Twentieth Century: Symbol and Expression
Primary texts
Langer, Susanne K. Philosophy in a New Key.
→ Chapter 8
6. Contemporary Debate on Music and Emotion
Lentini, D. La musica e le emozioni. Percorsi nell’estetica analitica. Milan: Mimesis, 2014.
→ Cap. 1 (Kivy)
→ Cap. 4(Levinson)
→ Cap. 5 (Matravers)
Aristotle. Poetics. Various Italian editions (Laterza, BUR).
Aristotle. Politics. Various Italian editions (Laterza, BUR).
Caccini, Giulio. Le nuove musiche.
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica. Bologna: Il Mulino, 1995.
Galilei, Vincenzo. Dialogue on Ancient and Modern Music.
Hanslick, Eduard. On the Musically Beautiful. Various editions.
Kivy, Peter. Philosophy of music. An Introduction.
Langer, Susanne K. Philosophy in a New Key. Rome: Armando, 1972.
Plato. Republic. Various editions.
Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation. Various editions.
Lentini, D. La musica e le emozioni. Percorsi nell’estetica analitica. Milan: Mimesis, 2014.
Programme
Detailed Course Programme (most of the readings will be provided by the instructor)0. Introduction to the Philosophy of Music
Kivy, Peter. Philosophy of Music: An Introduction. Turin: Einaudi, 2007.
→ Chapter 1
1. Music and Emotion in the Ancient World
Primary texts
Plato, Republic, Book III (398–403) and Book X (595–608).
Aristotle, Politics, Book VIII (esp. 1339a–1342b).
Aristotle, Poetics, Chapter 6 (1449b–1450a).
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica. Bologna: Il Mulino.
→ Chapter VI
2. The Renaissance, the Florentine Camerata, and the Theory of the Affections
Primary texts
Galilei, Vincenzo. Dialogue on Ancient and Modern Music (excerpts).
Caccini, Giulio. Preface to Le nuove musiche.
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter VIII
3. The Eighteenth Century: Music and the Theory of the Passions
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter IX
4. The Nineteenth Century: Expression and Formalism
Primary texts
Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation, Book III, §§50–52 (especially §52).
Hanslick, Eduard. On the Musically Beautiful.
→ Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Secondary literature
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica.
→ Chapter X
5. The Twentieth Century: Symbol and Expression
Primary texts
Langer, Susanne K. Philosophy in a New Key.
→ Chapter 8
6. Contemporary Debate on Music and Emotion
Lentini, D. La musica e le emozioni. Percorsi nell’estetica analitica. Milan: Mimesis, 2014.
→ Cap. 1 (Kivy)
→ Cap. 4(Levinson)
→ Cap. 5 (Matravers)
Core Documentation
General BibliographyAristotle. Poetics. Various Italian editions (Laterza, BUR).
Aristotle. Politics. Various Italian editions (Laterza, BUR).
Caccini, Giulio. Le nuove musiche.
Fubini, Enrico. Estetica della musica. Bologna: Il Mulino, 1995.
Galilei, Vincenzo. Dialogue on Ancient and Modern Music.
Hanslick, Eduard. On the Musically Beautiful. Various editions.
Kivy, Peter. Philosophy of music. An Introduction.
Langer, Susanne K. Philosophy in a New Key. Rome: Armando, 1972.
Plato. Republic. Various editions.
Schopenhauer, Arthur. The World as Will and Representation. Various editions.
Lentini, D. La musica e le emozioni. Percorsi nell’estetica analitica. Milan: Mimesis, 2014.
Reference Bibliography
- Kivy, P., An Introduction to the Philosophy of Music, Clarendon Press 2022 (chapters. 1-7). - Hanslick, E., On the Beautiful in Music (any English edition) (chapters 1-3). - Langer, S., Philosophy in a New Key (any edition) (ch. 8: On significance in music). - Lentini, D., La musica e le emozioni. Percorsi nell’estetica analitica, Mimesis, Milano, 2014 (chapters 1, 2, 4, 5) - Mado Proverbio, A., Neuroscienze cognitive della musica, Zanichelli, Roma, 2019 (chapters 11, 12, 13).Attendance
Attendance is not compulsory but it is highly recommended.Type of evaluation
An oral test is scheduled at the end of the course.