| Unit name | Western Liturgical Chant (Optional split-level history unit) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | MUSI30137 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Hornby |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Music |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Day and night, for hundreds of years, chant was the primary expression of prayer and praise for monks, nuns and clerics across western Europe. In this course, we will explore the liturgical, architectural and cultural setting for this musical world. We will find ways of understanding the musical styles and aesthetics of the repertoire. We will focus on the way in which chant was composed and transmitted, looking at its oral characteristics and the impact of writing on its style. We will also investigate the politics and practicalities of the eighth-century imposition of $�Gregorian chant&� across the Frankish Empire and beyond, and evaluate the remaining evidence of the local chant traditions which were replaced by the new authoritative liturgy.
