Music informs an important part of our daily lives. We listen to music in a wide variety of situations that range from the aural intensity we experience in the silence of solitude to our intermittent awareness of music when played as background animation in parties. Music makes us smile, cry, it can even give us the shivers with that peculiar capacity it has to bring forth past memories in a very vivid manner. From ancient rituals to the popular hits we consume nowadays, music has played a role in our lives so significant it has recently been characterized as “subversive.” But where does the power of music come from? How has music historically influenced our world? What can we learn from the world from the music that was created, performed and enjoyed over generations?

This course intends to address these questions by fostering reflection about music from two different perspectives. First we will introduce Western music and its different genres, we will discuss how and why music was created, and the effect it had over society at the time. Second, we will explore the music of the world, by putting students in touch with the sounds that characterize the different countries and cultures. The course will take students on an exciting journey across the history of music and its sonic landscapes all over the world.

In addition to revising the most historically relevant musical genres—from Renaissance madrigals to blues and jazz—the class will also delve into specific topics such as the role of minorities and diverse communities in the musical world, the evolution of the music market and the necessary attribute of music in movies and animation.