Tuesday 5 April 2011

Take-Home Final Exam

Dear Students,

The details for your take-home final exam--worth 25% of your final mark and due in the Humanities drop-box (AQ5120) by noon on Friday, April 15--are as follows:

Part I - 10%

Follow this link to "Sacred, Beautiful, Universal," an hour-long video chronicling a key annual event in the recent renaissance of Gregorian Chant in America. Based on your attentive viewing of this program, provide a 600-750-word reflection on the contemporary significance of Gregorian Chant; you should identify 4-5 key points made in the course of the program as the basis for your reflection, but you may also draw upon your textbook (Hiley) and any other sources which you may find pertinent.

Part II - 5%

Browse the website of the Church Music Association of America, and specifically the archives of their journal Sacred Music. Choose one of the full-length articles from any issue you wish--whichever may have some interest for you--and provide a 300-400 word précis of it. Be sure to both demonstrate a comprehension of the article, and offer your own due consideration of its import.

OR

Browse the New Liturgical Movement website and select one of the full[length articles on sacred art by contemporary artist David Clayton (or suggest another piece to me by e-mail, if you find something you deem appropriate). Follow the instructions above for completing a précis.

Part III - 10%

Provide your own 800-950 word introduction to the Mass in the Middle Ages, drawing upon all the course materials and any other sources you wish. Be sure to include distinct subsections dealing with, for ex., history, theology, art & architecture, social/political/economic dynamics, etc., using as many specific references as possible. Try to achieve a balance between providing a general overview--a "summary" of what you have learned in the course--and the inclusion of details which make your introduction personal and unique.

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Art & Architecture Presentations

Please follow this link for the art & architecture PowerPoint presentations of your fellow students. This folder (with files to download) will acquire more content as groups send in their presentations.

Thanks to all of you for making these available!


Wednesday 23 March 2011

Details for Friday's Field Trip

Dear Students,

Here are the details for Friday's field trip:

1) The service will take place at Holy Family Parish, at 7:30 pm. It will be a Solemn High Mass followed by the Office of Compline. Latin-English booklets will be available.

2) The location is 4851 Beatrice Street, Vancouver, V5N 4J5 Parking is available at and around the church.

3) For those coming by public transportation, let us meet up together outside 29th Ave. Station at 6:50 pm, in BAY 1, to catch the 7 pm departure of the 33 UBC bus. We get off at E 33 Ave. & Victoria to walk a few blocks to the church.

4) I will have a cell phone that day, #778-318-9259, for those who may need to call.

5) The plan is to go out afterwards to dine somewhere; a Mexican restaurant nearby has been recommended, but those of you who know the area may have a better idea...


Looking forward to seeing as many as possible!

Dr. Butcher

Tuesday 8 March 2011

Thursday 10 February 2011

Mid-Term Exam Study Guide

Dear Students,

Please ensure that you are familiar with the terms below, and are able to formulate a one-sentence answer for the questions given. The mid-term will allow for some choice, and will feature matching, multiple choice and short-answer questions. N.B. The chapter breaks are only a general indication of where to find each item; in fact, many items are treated in more than one chapter.

Two hours are allotted for this exam, which will be open-book, i.e., textbooks and class notes permitted. Remember to consult the PowerPoint presentations for further assistance in your studying.

Frank Senn, The People's Work, Chs. 1-2

Terms: sect/cult, Abba, John the Baptist, Saul/Paul, Eucharist, AD 70, Didache/"Teaching of the 12 Apostles", Gentile, refrigerium, leitourgia/liturgia, "in communion", familia Dei/"family of God", syncretism

What sociological models are proposed to describe the early Christian worshipping community?

What role did the bishop play in the early Church?

Why were the graves of martyrs important?

What was the significance of baptism?

What is an apocalyptic worldview?

Chs. 3-4

Terms: Kyrios/Dominus, "eighth day", symbols of 4 Evangelists, "the Lamb", polis/civitas, asceticism/ascesis, Anthony of Egypt, "ora et labora"/"prayer & work", Lauds, Vespers, Advent, Epiphany, All Saints, Pascha

Why is the biblical book the Apocalypse/Revelation important for understanding early Christian worship?

Why were Christians persecuted in the early centuries of the Church?

What was the inspiration behind, or rationale for, the rise of Christian monasticism?

What are two theories regarding the origin of Christmas?

Chs. 5-6

Terms: Edict of Milan (AD 313), Constantinople, Hagia Sophia, fermentum, canons, Sacrament of Orders,

What is a basilica and what role did it play in the 4th c. Church?

Where did liturgical vestments originate?

Where does the term "Mass" come from?

What was the iconoclastic controversy?

Why was Jerusalem important for the development of the liturgy?

Chs. 7-9

Terms: the Ordinary of the Mass, the Propers of the Mass, Benedict of Nursia, Cyril & Methodius, Christmas Day AD 800, vernacular, Books of Hours (Horae), Lent, Annunciation, Candlemas, Carnival, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, crèche,

What are the Psalms; explain their use in Christian liturgy?

Why was the voice the preferred instrument in early Christian worship?

What was the standard Christian fast?

David Hiley, Gregorian
Chant, Ch. 1

Terms: monophony, polyphony, mendicant, Divine Office/Opus Dei, Prime, Tierce, Sext, None, Compline, Requiem Mass, processions & stations, 5 Ordinary Chants, syllabic, melismatic

Monday 7 February 2011

Link to Updated Syllabus

Please follow the link here for an updated syllabus; recent changes (under "Course Schedule") indicated in fuchsia!