DI5601 Music and the Sacred in Theory and Practice

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

This module is restricted to students on the MLitt in Sacred Music, except with permission of the module coordinator.

Planned timetable

3-6 Friday

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr C M Froehlich

Dr C M Froehlich
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr C Froehlich and Dr G Hopps

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module introduces students to the wide diversity of music in its relation to the sacred, in and outside different denominational church contexts. The module is team taught, drawing on the variety of research specialisms of staff in ITIA and the Divinity School. It will address topics such as the sacred in Pop Music, Music Theatre, and Opera, as well as in Contemporary Christian Music (e.g. Christian Pop, Hip Hop, and Praise and Worship), Gregorian and contemporary chant (e.g. Iona and TaizÚ chant), traditional Catholic and Anglican music, and the relationship between music and liturgy in different Christian denominations. Students will be exposed to a range of theological arguments underpinning some of the culture wars in contemporary church music, and learn to articulate their own views and interrogate their own musical practice in relation to these. Assessment takes the form of two coursework essays (4,000 words each).

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lectures (11 weeks), 2 seminars (11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

34

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

275

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Describe and critically evaluate a range of different theological approaches to music, such as catechetical, affective, sacramental approaches
  • Engage in an appreciative scholarly manner with a variety of styles of music (even those which aren’t to their taste)
  • Analyze how different musical styles might reflect quite different theological purposes, such as the desire to emphasize one aspect of divinity rather than another
  • Develop and sustain an argument in a scholarly fashion, and respond appropriately to critical feedback
  • Engage more confidently in independent interdisciplinary research.