58勛圖

MU5002 Sacred Music in the West: History and Context

Academic year

2025 to 2026 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

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

Planned timetable

2.00 pm - 5.00 pm Tue

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

Module coordinator

Dr T A Wilkinson

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

Module Staff

Dr Tom Wilkinson, Dr Michael Ferguson, Dr Jane Pettegree, Dr Michael Downes

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 focuses on the history and development of sacred music-making in a variety of confessional traditions informed by Western musical practice. Students explore when, where, and why Christians have made music in their worship. In doing so, they consider how this music was shaped, for example, by its liturgical context; by the geographical location of worship; by local and global patronage; by the development of instrumental and other technologies; and by the political and social life of wider society. Students engage critically with important works of sacred music, and consider the relationship between these and wider Western art and culture, both historically and in the present day. In considering different Christian denominations and worship styles, students explore the changing historical role of the church musician, and reflect upon what it means to be a church musician today.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture (11 weeks), 2 seminar (11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

33

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.

MU5002 Sacred Music in the West: History and Context

Academic year

2026 to 2027 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

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

Planned timetable

2.00 pm - 5.00 pm Tue

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

Module coordinator

Dr T A Wilkinson

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

Module Staff

Dr Tom Wilkinson, Dr Michael Ferguson, Dr Jane Pettegree, Dr Michael Downes

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 focuses on the history and development of sacred music-making in a variety of confessional traditions informed by Western musical practice. Students explore when, where, and why Christians have made music in their worship. In doing so, they consider how this music was shaped, for example, by its liturgical context; by the geographical location of worship; by local and global patronage; by the development of instrumental and other technologies; and by the political and social life of wider society. Students engage critically with important works of sacred music, and consider the relationship between these and wider Western art and culture, both historically and in the present day. In considering different Christian denominations and worship styles, students explore the changing historical role of the church musician, and reflect upon what it means to be a church musician today.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 lecture (11 weeks), 2 seminar (11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

33

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

  • By the end of the module, students will have a deeper understanding of the development of Christian music-making in the Western tradition, from its earliest beginnings to the present day.
  • By the end of the module, students will have developed an awareness of how sacred music-making has both shaped, and been shaped by, the practice of Christian worship.
  • By the end of the module, students will have been encouraged to critically reflect upon the relationship between sacred music-making and wider social, cultural and political life in the different eras explored.
  • By the end of the module, students will have a deeper understanding of sacred music's relationship to wider trends and practices in art/popular music.