Unstable Revolution – Boleslav Yavorsky’s (1877–1942) Theory of Musical Thinking 3106-JAWOR-OG

Compared to German, French and Anglo-Saxon musicology, Eastern Europe-based researchers’ achievements still remain at a margin of the main stream of discipline’s interests. Among ambitious approaches from the field of music analysis and music theory, as well as methods of compositional work process, one that stands out is a theory authored by Boleslav Yavorsky (1877–1942) – Russian-speaking theoretician of Polish and Ukrainian origins – titled lādovy rhythm theory, theory of musical speech or – as preferred by the author – theory of musical thinking.
During a one-semester class the full scope of this theory will be presented. Effectively, students will not only get acquainted with lesser-known approach to music theory and a specific approach to the model of composers’ working process, but will also have an opportunity to verify practical applications of Yavorsky’s concept.

Type of course

general courses

Learning outcomes

Students understand relations between musicology and other disciplines (including different fields of humanities) and possess a basic knowledge of subject and methodology specifics in musicology.
Students understand the basic terms of Boleslav Yavorsky’s theory of musical thinking, through which they can look in a fresh and innovative way at the music pieces of the 20th century, especially Ukrainian, Russian and Polish works of the era.
Students can see the social responsibility of their discipline and can conduct a critical analysis of the products of musical culture, while being able to adjust their interpretation method and to historical context.

Assessment criteria

1. Attendance;
2. Readings of recommended texts (no more than one scientific article);
3. Short written exercises (no more than two);
4. Final multiple choice test.
Grade concerns the entire activity during the course, including reading of recommended literature and timely return of a short written task. The material of the final test will include entirety of thematic range of the course.

Bibliography

Marta Ługowska, Zarys koncepcji teoretycznej Bolesława Jaworskiego, in: Teresa Malecka (ed.), Analiza i interpretacja dzieła muzycznego: wybór metod, Gdańsk, Kraków: Akademia Muzyczna 1990.
Wiktor Cukkierman, Bolesław Jaworski jako teoretyk muzyki, translated by Jerzy Popiel, in: Zofia Lissa (ed.), Polsko-rosyjskie miscellanea muzyczne: dla uczczenia pięćdziesiątej rocznicy Rewolucji Październikowej, Kraków: Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne 1967.
Philip Ewell, On the Russian Concept of Lād, 1830–1945, “Music Theory Online” 4 (2019).
Philip Ewell, Music Theory à la Leningrad: An Interview With Tatiana Bershadskaya, “Contemporary Musicology” 4 (2019).
Gordon McQuere, Elements of the Structure of Musical Speech by S.V. Protopopov: A Translation and Commentary, PhD dissertation under supervision of Prof. Thomas Walter Atcherson, Iowa: University of Iowa 1978.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes: