Class Audiotechnology: from Analog to Digital

This curricular unit aims at providing the student with the necessary historical, technical and aesthetical knowledge associated with the use of technology in sound and music.

Not applicable

Introduction to the social and artistic mutations of the second half of the XIX century Introduction to electrical sonic technology and other inventions: 1750 to 1900 Artistic trends in the beginning of the XX century. Sound Technologies: 1900-1940. The arts between the Wars. Post-war: technological mutations, artistic mutations. Pierre Schaeffer, Paris and musique concrète Sound object Musical object Reduced listening Cologne and electronic music Uses of technology in popular music: groups, styles and machines. Mixed-media music and live electronics. Impact of technology in instrumental art music. The age of the computer Sound synthesis and signal processing: pioneers and prototypes. Developments in compositional technique. Sound technology in real-time. Computer-assisted music. Software, functionalities, limitations and conditioning factors. Musical contextualisation: techniques, aesthetics and composers.

The curricular unit is mainly theoretical, focusing on sound and music-related topics. Therefore, verbal exposition of the syllabus contents supported by slides and audio playback is the main teaching methodology. Forum discussion on addressed topics, as well as the development of analytical and critical thinking, will be strongly motivated. Study materials will be uploaded to the e-Learning platform (Moodle).

Ashbourn, J. (2021). Audio Technology, Music, and Media: From Sound Wave to Reproduction. Springer Nature. Braun, H. J. (Ed.). (2002). Music and Technology in the Twentieth Century. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Holmes, T. (2020). Electronic and Experimental Music: Technology, Music, and Culture (Sixth Edition). Taylor & Francis. Manning, P. (2013). Electronic and Computer Music. Oxford University Press. Roads, C. (1996). The Computer Music Tutorial. MIT Press. Schaeffer, P. (1967). Solfège de l’objet sonore. ORTF / Éditions du Seuil. Schaeffer, P. (1966). Traité des objects musicaux. Éditions du Seuil. Taruskin, R. (2009a). Music in the Early Twentieth Century: The Oxford History of Western Music. Oxford University Press, USA. Taruskin, R. (2009b). Music in the Late Twentieth Century: The Oxford History of Western Music. Oxford University Press, USA.