The Italian Madrigal, 1520c-1650c
Professor Massimo Ossi
Wednesdays, 12:30-3:20 P.M., M263
In this course we will study the repertory of the Italian madrigal and the scholarly approaches that have been taken to it. This will include an introduction to the fundamentals of Italian verse and versification; modal and tonal analytical theories and methodologies, both historical and modern; and critical methodologies that address questions raised by subject matter, reception, patronage, performance practice, social context, literary conventions and criticism, etc.
Weekly sessions will consist of analytical presentations by individual students; group analyses of selected repertory; reports on specific aspects of madrigal scholarship and historiography; and discussions of reading assignments. Students will present a minimum of three individual reports (analytical or historiographic; the total number will depend on how many are in the seminar), as well as a final research paper and formal presentation.