Instruments of Europe

elective courses
general courses

During the classes, keyboard instruments with particular emphasis on those whose sound source is a free reed.. The classes will illustrate examples taken from sources and recordings of the repertoire that was created for a given instrument.

The aim of the course is to present the history and construction of the selected European instruments, with a special emphasis on those whose sound source is a free reed. The cultural context in which they were used and some examples from the musical repertoire will also be shown. The classes will be diversified as much as possible by examples taken from 19th-century prints, fragments of catalogs of instrument makers and selected recordings, which will allow the listener to move into old, sometimes forgotten, realities.

List of topics: The piano and its special varieties, harmonium, hybrid instruments, accordions, carillon, celesta, mechanical instruments etc.

Literature will be selected during the first lesson, taking into account the specific interests of the participants.

The student is able to:

- indicate the chosen European instruments;

- explain the structure of particular instruments using appropriate terminology;

- present selected contexts in which they were played;

- indicate the idiomatic features of playing a given instrument that shape the nascent musical literature / practice;

- interact in a group, take part in discussions.

Test with open and closed questions.

Two unexcused absences are allowed (not including participation in scientific conferences, fieldwork and sick leaves).

Student who will present a paper related to the subject of the course during students’ scientific conference, will be exempted from the test after documenting his achievement.