| ITAL 249 — Special Topics in
Italian Language, Literature, and Music | Fall 2008 |
M 14.00-15.50 | 1403 Alice Pratt
Brown | 4 credits | Dr. Edward M. Anderson (NOT OFFERED FALL 2009)
Students in this directed reading — designed for undergraduates and graduates in music with a particular interest in Italian, and with at least at least two semesters of university-level Italian language training — will carry forward in the study of the Italian language through the libretti of Lorenzo Da Ponte (1749-1838). The musical poetry of Da Ponte will be used as a 'punto di partenza' in a wide-ranging survey of topics in Italian language, literature, and music ca. 1300-1850. Increasingly complex grammatical forms will be discussed in this interdisciplinary context. Authors to be read in this course include Petrarch, Bembo, Ariosto, Tasso, Redi, Metastasio, and Goldoni. Students will be expected to complete a number of different writing assignments — these will involve some exercises aimed at developing fluency with the indicative, conditional and subjunctive modes. The language of music will receive special attention, especially the 'economical' forms of musical poetry (e.g., the 'passato remoto' [praeteritum]). Students will be expected to give prepared written or oral responses to the musico-literary readings each week. In most of the fifteen weeks, students will write a 1-2 page essay in Italian on a relevant topic. In weeks, 6, 10, and 15 students will submit a 3-4 page paper. This directed reading will meet once a week for two hours during term and the discussion will focus on a series of pre-arranged topics. The discussion will be conducted in Italian and English. There will be no final exam. The final grade in this course will take into account a student's participation in the discussions, and the quality of a student's written work.
Dr. Edward M. Anderson
327 Rayzor Hall - MS 34
Rice University
Houston, Texas 77251-1892
Telephone: 713.348.4373
Facsimile: 713.348.5846
Email: edward.m.anderson@rice.edu
Students in this directed reading — designed for undergraduates and graduates in music with a particular interest in Italian, and with at least at least two semesters of university-level Italian language training — will carry forward in the study of the Italian language through the libretti of Lorenzo Da Ponte (1749-1838). The musical poetry of Da Ponte will be used as a 'punto di partenza' in a wide-ranging survey of topics in Italian language, literature, and music ca. 1300-1850. Increasingly complex grammatical forms will be discussed in this interdisciplinary context. Authors to be read in this course include Petrarch, Bembo, Ariosto, Tasso, Redi, Metastasio, and Goldoni. Students will be expected to complete a number of different writing assignments — these will involve some exercises aimed at developing fluency with the indicative, conditional and subjunctive modes. The language of music will receive special attention, especially the 'economical' forms of musical poetry (e.g., the 'passato remoto' [praeteritum]). Students will be expected to give prepared written or oral responses to the musico-literary readings each week. In most of the fifteen weeks, students will write a 1-2 page essay in Italian on a relevant topic. In weeks, 6, 10, and 15 students will submit a 3-4 page paper. This directed reading will meet once a week for two hours during term and the discussion will focus on a series of pre-arranged topics. The discussion will be conducted in Italian and English. There will be no final exam. The final grade in this course will take into account a student's participation in the discussions, and the quality of a student's written work.
Dr. Edward M. Anderson
327 Rayzor Hall - MS 34
Rice University
Houston, Texas 77251-1892
Telephone: 713.348.4373
Facsimile: 713.348.5846
Email: edward.m.anderson@rice.edu
