Syllabus Music & Islam
Course Description
This course explores musical and sonic practices in the Muslim world, with particular emphasis on history, Muslim discourses on the ethical and social position of music, religious and ritual musics and sonic performances. It also addresses secular music as well as transnational and mediated musical practices in various contemporary Muslim societies or communities. It will highlight both the commonalities and the considerable diversity of musical practices around the Islamic world, and provide in-depth exploration of a few case studies. No formal knowledge of music history and theory, ethnomusicology or Islam is required in order to take this course.
Prerequisites: Undergraduates should enroll in 469; graduates should enroll in 569.
Aims and Objectives
To become acquainted with the musical history of the Islamic world, with particular reference to the Middle East.
To explore a variety of musical genres and sonic practices in the Islamic world, including religious, mystical (Sufi) and secular practices.
To gain an understanding of the social, political and cultural meanings of music in various Muslim societies around the world.
To develop interest in and knowledge of Islam as a complex social, moral and religious universe, and to promote an attitude of cultural understanding and respect.
Course requirements
Regular class attendance and participation in class discussions
Completing weekly reading and listening assignments
Completing additional assigned exercises to be submitted or presented in class. These may entail short transcription assignments, leading discussions over specific issues or readings, or submitting short written reports on assigned topics.
Mid-term assignment: EITHER a book review OR an exercise in transcription and analysis of a chosen piece of music.
Research proposal – to be submitted by week 6 – on the topic of your final paper. Your proposal should be short (1-2 pages) and include topic description, provisional bibliography and proposed method
Oral presentation (20-30 min) on a subject of your choice – which may or may not be the subject of your final paper.
Final paper, due by 18 April. For undergraduates (Music 469): 3,000-4,000 words; for graduates (Music 565): 5,000-6,000 words. Word limits do not include bibliography, but do include footnotes, captions, graphics with a textual component, etc.
Assessment
Each assignment will be marked according to the numeric scale of evaluation given below. Individual assignment marks will be combined to obtain a final numeric grade, which will be translated into the correspondent final letter grade.
A 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B 3.0
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C 2.0
C- 1.7
D+ 1.3
D 1.0
D- 0.7
F 0.0
The relative weight of each assignment on the overall grade is as follows:
Attendance, completion of weekly readings and participation in class discussions: 15%
Additional exercises: 15%
Mid-term review or transcription exercise: 15%
Oral presentation: 15%
Research proposal: 5%
Final paper: 35%
Resources
There are no required textbooks for this course. A number of relevant books will be available in the University Bookstore and are recommended for those of you who intend to purchase books for this course. Most class readings will be on reserve at the Music Library. Some of the readings required for this course are available online as well. Relevant bibliographic or audio-visual materials that may not be available on reserve will be handed out in class or included in the course Wiki page.
The course Wiki-page will be an important resource for media, readings and other materials. I will use it also to communicate changes of schedule, further assignment details or other messages to the class. The Wiki may also function as a class forum, and please do not hesitate to post in your messages, comments or questions.
Schedule
Week 1 – Jan 12: Introduction to Islam in history, society and culture
Week 2 – Jan 19: Muslim discourses on the legitimacy of music 1: the sama' controversy
Week 3 – Jan 26: Muslim discourses on the legitimacy of music 2: ancient treatises and contemporary debates
Due: presentation of assigned readings
Week 4 – Feb 2: The history of music in the Middle East: science of music, cosmology and musical affects.
Week 5 – Feb 9: The Qur'an
Week 6 – Feb 16: Mystical Islam and Sufism. A case study of the Mevlevi Ayin in Turkey
Week 7 – Feb 23: Reading Week
Week 8 – March 2: Diversity in the Muslim world: popular, syncretic and local religious traditions.
Due: Mid-term review or exercise
Due: presentation of assigned readings
Week 9 – March 9: Music and Islam in Iran
Due: presentation of assigned readings and recordings
Week 10 – March 16: Music and Islam in Morocco
Due: research proposal
Due: presentation of assigned readings and recordings
Week 11 – March 23: Music and Islam in South Asia
Due: presentation of assigned readings and recordings
Week 12 – March 30: Popular musics and new technologies
Week 13 – April 6: Presentations
Week 14 – April 13: Presentations
Final paper due on April 18th
“Policy about course outlines can be found in section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar”. (GFC 29 SEP 2003)
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of th University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves the the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.” (GFC 29 SEP 2003)
