Liturgy, Music, and Art in Medieval and Renaissance Europe

Catalog description

In Europe of the thirteenth through sixteenth centuries, daily life was infused with the structure of Christian worship. Days of the year were tracked according to the Church calendar and the time of day was told in relation to the numerous daily Church services, in which virtually everything was sung. Many of the architectural wonders of this period were churches and private chapels, and there was an explosion of religious music and art meant to adorn the liturgical celebrations that took place within these spaces. This seminar explores connections between Christian liturgical services (especially the Mass), musical compositions (Gregorian chant, masses, motets, and other choral works), and visual artworks (paintings, sculptures, altarpieces, and illuminated manuscripts) from these centuries, all of which shared a common vocabulary of sacred texts, images, and symbols. In addition to analyzing readings, sound recordings, videos, and images, students will visit the Cleveland Museum of Art, attend musical performances, tour local architectural structures, and observe religious services. Counts as a Communication Intensive course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.