>Opera< is a unique genre of composite art, in which music and text, visual and audible elements are combined to describe human emotions and social aspects with themes such as love and death. The instructor picks up several representative works, explains ①their cultural, social and historical backgrounds o, ②how the words and music relate in each work, ③history of the genre from the aspects of formal developments, shows ④how the impression of the same work can vary through the difference of the musical and dramatic interpretation with visual and audio examples (DVDs and CDs). Through getting to know each work from various aspects students can feel that the theme, message and emotions that are handled in the opera are closely related to us who are living in this modern complicated society.
By the end of the semester students will
1)realize the charm of this composite art genre that can express human emotion and social situation with a unique combination of words, music and visual elements.
2)see another aspect of European culture and history through the genre that was born in the aristocratic society in the 17th century, adapted to civil society (bourgeoisie) in the nineteenth century and still has appealing actuality for those who are living in this modern and global society.
composite art, music, word, drama, culture and history of Eurpope
Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Only two masterpieces are chosen as main subjects (for this quarter, Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” and Wagner’s “Lohengrin”), so that one can feel the expanse and richness of the genre through knowing and appreciating few works deeply from many aspects. Of each work 1)text and music are analyzed, 2)social background and message are viewed, 3)different musical interpretations and stage directions are compared. Besides 4)the history of the genre as a formal development is overlooked with audio and visual materials. Commentary of the instructor and DVD viewing(or CD listening) occupy the main part of the course, but students are also appreciated to participate positively through discussion and assignments
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Guidance, what is opera? | 授業内で指示します。 To be announced during classes. |
Class 2 | Mozart, his Life and operatic Works | To be announced during classes. |
Class 3 | Mozart "“The Marriage of Figaro” Act1 Text and Music | To be announced during classes. |
Class 4 | Mozart "“The Marriage of Figaro” Act2 Text and Music | To be announced during classes. |
Class 5 | Mozart "“The Marriage of Figaro” Act3 Text and Music | To be announced during classes. |
Class 6 | Mozart "“The Marriage of Figaro” Act4 Text and Music | To be announced during classes. |
Class 7 | History of the Opera(the Development of its form) | To be announced during classes. |
Class 8 | Vocal Parts and their Characters | To be announced during classes. |
Class 9 | What is Stage Direction? | To be announced during classes. |
Class 10 | Wagner, his Life and Works | To be announced during classes. |
Class 11 | Wagner “Lohengrin” Act1 Text and Music | To be announced during classes. |
Class 12 | Wagner “Lohengrin” Act2-1 Text and Music | To be announced during classes. |
Class 13 | Wagner “Lohengrin” Act2-2 Text and Music | To be announced during classes. |
Class 14 | Wagner “Lohengrin” Act3 Text and Music | To be announced during classes. |
Class 15 | Summary | To be announced during classes. |
All Texts are given in classes by the instructor.
Nothing in particular except two books in Japanese mentioned above.
The scores are based on assignments after classes (40%) and report paper at the end of quarter(60%) .
Students must attend the first class as the number of participants needs to be limited.
Those who don’t have any knowledge about opera are as welcome as great fans of opera, as long as they can follow basic attendance manner(which overlaps with that for seeing operas in a theater) and show enthusiasm and interests to participate in classes through reading reference books and prints, watching and listening to visual and audio materials, and writing assignments. It is strongly recommended to visit at least one opera performance before, during or after the quarter.