Music Technology in Light of History

The course provides an introduction to the history and distinctive character of music technology, based on a critical and humanistic perspective, and the development of new practices in production, distribution and use. The course also discusses the relationship between technology, aesthetics, musical expression/ form and practice and how ways of working with music technology have changed throughout history.

Knowledge:

Having completed the course the candidate will

• have acquired knowledge of the most important tendencies in the development of technologies for sound recording, electronic sound synthesis, manipulation, transmission and distribution.
• have an understanding of how 20th and 21st century music technology is related to earlier forms of music technology
• have acquired knowledge of how music technology has developed in interaction with art and culture, as well as technology and society
• have acquired knowledge of how music technology has contributed to changing the understanding of what music is and how it is created, performed, distributed and experienced.

Skills:

Having completed the course the candidate will

• be able to see interrelationships between recent and historical practices within music technology
• be able to carry out simple forms of sound recording, playback, editing and treatment with the use of digital tools and relate this to music technology history
• be able to reflect critically based on, and in continuation of, the acquired knowledge
• be able to formulate his/her knowledge convincingly, both in writing and orally, according to academic standards

Lectures and.exercises: Exercises may be a written essay and/or practical assignments. Teaching is usually conducted in Norwegian, but may take place in English.

Instruction is obligatory and demands minimum 80% attendance.