Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MSP2284

 
TITLE Contemporary Composition in Practice

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Music Studies

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit is concerned with the students' development as composers. In taught elements (lectures, seminars) different approaches to composing will be explored through undertaking set tasks and through lectures on models of contemporary composition techniques and philosophies.

This study-unit will also help students to increase their awareness of a range of techniques, styles, and strategies. Two seminars will project elements of free composition supported by tutorial supervision aimed to foster the development of a personal style.

Study-unit Aims:

This study-unit aims at developing:
1) the ability to think and work with originality and creative independence;
2) enhance proficiency in a variety of compositional techniques;
3) the ability to work with self-confidence with the tools and materials of contemporary composition;
4) the ability to work in a language and idiom with artistic relevance to contemporary art culture.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1) think and work with originality and creative independence;
2) further proficiency in a variety of compositional techniques;
3) work with self-confidence with the available tools and materials of contemporary composition;
4) compose in a language and idiom with artistic relevance to contemporary art culture.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1) possess aural/analytical skills;
2) employ compositional and technological skills in contemporary compositional practice;
3) demonstrate intellectual skills, including skills in research, critical thinking, reasoning, and synthesis;
4) display enhanced powers of imagination and creativity;
5) work and develop self-critical direction in free composition building that is characteristic of contemporary composition in practice.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts

- Nyman, M. 2000. Experimental Music (Cambridge: CUP).
- Stone, K. 1980. Music Notation in the Twentieth Century (New York: Norton).
- Weisberg, A. 1996. Performing Twentieth Century Music: A Handbook for Conductors and Instrumentalists (Yale: Yale UP).
- Whittall A. 1999. Musical Composition in the Twentieth Century (Oxford: OUP).

Supplementary Texts

- Ford, A. 1993. Composer to Composer: Conversations About Contemporary Music (London: Quartet Publications.
- Griffiths P., 1995. Modern Music and After (Oxford: OUP).
- Kennan, K. & Grantham, D. 1983. The Technique of Orchestration. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.1983.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-Requisite qualifications: A Level Music or Grade 7/8 Theory

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Seminar and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation SEM2 Yes 20%
Presentation SEM2 Yes 20%
Portfolio SEM2 Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit