MUSI0035-1 : History of Afro-American music

Study Programmes 2016-2017

MUSI0035-1

History of Afro-American music

Duration :

30h Th

Number of credits :

Master in communication (120 ECTS)		4
Master in modern languages and literatures : German, Dutch and English (120 ECTS)		5
Master in modern languages and literatures : general (120 ECTS)		5
Master in history of art and archaeology : musicology (120 ECTS)		5

Lecturer :

Christophe Pirenne, Robert Sacré

Coordinator :

N...

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents :

African Roots : music in Western Africa BEFORE and DURING the Slave Trade (17th -19th c) The music of African slaves in Colonial America from 1604 to 1775 Black Music in America from Independence till the Civil War ( 1775-1865) Emergence of NEGRO SPIRITUALS (1865) followed by GOSPEL SONGS (end of 19thc ) The birth of the BLUES ( c.1875) and JAZZ ( c.1900); maturation till 1920. Depending on time and geography emergence and development of various styles of African American music (religious styles, blues styles and jazz schools) from 1920 till nowadays Related music styles emerging in the XXth century : R&B, Soul music, disco, rap,... Influence exercised on Occidental music in the XX th - XXI st c. and on African American literature. Audition of records + audio documents and comments Vision of films, DVDs and video VHS related to African American music and literature.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit :

To give a large view of the chronology of the rise and development of African American music and to put it in perspective with the courses of History, History of Art, History of Cinema and with the general literature of the same period.
To be aware that, since the beginning of the 20thc. till today, African American music influenced every kind of Western music (classical and contemporary styles, pop music, entertainment music, music in the movies, French popular music, British pop music, etc....) and still does.
To be able to identify et characterize the main eras and periods of the story of African American music.
To be able to recognize and to describe the main styles of African American music and popular music when listening to records and to music samples in general.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills :

Musical knowledge is not required.
A practice of American-English is recommended (reading and oral understanding chiefly)

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

Face to face