Unit name | Compositional Strategy |
---|---|
Unit code | MUSI20047 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Louis Johnson |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites | |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Music |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit builds on first-year composition and provides a technical platform and pre-requisite for further studies in Composition. Weekly lectures will present major developments in music from Debussy to the present day, in terms of listening and close study of works by major composers (such as Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Webern, Messiaen, Bartok, Lutoslawski, Ligeti, Berio, Birtwistle, Carter, Feldman, Adams, Macmillan and aspects of popular music). Typical compositional techniques will be illustrated and followed up in weekly technical exercises covering aspects of motivic thinking, serialism and combinatoriality, advanced harmony, matrices, modes, rythmic techniques, isorythm, vocal, orchestral and chamber instrumentation and textural composition.
Aims:
This unit aims to develop compositional skills introduced at Level C through detailed investigation of a wide range of key 20th-century stylistic models (both in lecture and seminar settings), and to equip the student for further studies in composition, by means of detailed study of major works and written exercises on the use of associated techniques.
Weekly Lecture and Seminar (1 hour each).
Summative assessment of four pieces of coursework, equally weighted (4 x 25%), submitted as a portfolio at the end of the unit. All four pieces must be included in the portfolio to gain credit for the unit. (ILO 1-5)
Formative feedback is given during the unit on exercises (Tasks 1-4), which then lead into compositions (Projects 1-4). Each Task and corresponding Project become, together, one of the four coursework submissions for summative assessment. Submission of the exercises is not monitored for credit, prior to the portfolio submission, but is strongly encouraged.