Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2006-2007 (archived)

Module MUSI3312: FOLIO OF COMPOSITIONS

Department: MUSIC

MUSI3312: FOLIO OF COMPOSITIONS

Type Tied Level 3 Credits 40 Availability Available in 2006/07 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to W300

Prerequisites

  • Studies in Composition (MUSI2311), And/Or, for students wishing to create electroacoustic compositions, Electroacoustic Studies (MUSI2331).

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • Composition (20 credits) (MUSI3071), Dissertation (40 credits) (MUSI3332), Recital (MUSI3322).

Aims

  • To provide an opportunity for students to express their creativity through the production of a suitably differentiated folio of musical compositions, using compositional techniques to facilitate a competent and individual compositional voice, capable of demonstrating versatility in terms of musical expression and context.
  • In so doing they will need to demonstrate that they are receptive to the work of other creative artists and yet have the confidence and authority to develop their own ideas within the chosen medium, instrumental and/or electoacoustic.

Content

  • The production of a composition folio that may include or consist wholly of electroacoustic compositions.
  • The folio should contain about eighteen to twenty minutes of music, including at least two substantial works, each of not less than five minutes and written for or employing suitably differentiated resources.
  • The format and content of the folio is agreed with the course tutor, subject to the approval of the course director.
  • In the case of instrumental works at least one work must be written for a combination specified by the tutor and will be recorded in a compositional workshop under conditions that are supervised by the Department.
  • These recordings are routinely made available to the examiners are supporting materials.
  • Works consisting wholly or in part of electroacoustic material must be submitted in a recorded format.
  • Short analytical commentaries (300-500 words) for each work submitted should be included as a means of introduction to the candidate's sound world, technique and musical language.
  • The composition folio must be submitted by the first Friday of the Easter Term (teaching week 20).

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Students will become familiar with a range of techniques that are available for the creation of new music, and be able to demonstrate how these may be used creatively and effectively to establish a distinctive compositional repertory of their own.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • In so doing they will acquire the skills necessary to compose with maturity, authority and some originality.
Key Skills:
  • Compositional techniques used in an appropriate way to articulate each student's musical ideas.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The tutorials will enable the students to express their own creativity and develop their own compositional voice in response to a range of ideas associated with the development of new music.
  • Through tutorials they will acquire additional skills to those obtained at lower levels of study and learn how to articulate their musical ideas clearly and authoritatively, preparing score and parts and/or electroacoustic materials to a professional standard.
  • Opportunities will arise for works or extracts thereof to be performed in the context of workshops and/or equivalent auditory environments such as listening sessions.
  • These experiences will facilitate suitably critical, evaluate and reflective appraisals of what has been achieved and provide important guidance as to how such creative outputs may be improved both technically and musically, and how different approaches may be used to extend the nature and scope of their musical language.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Workshop 1 One 3 hours 3
Tutorials 19 One per week half-an-hour 9.5
Practicals 1 in term 2 6 hours 6
Preparation and Reading 381.50
Total 400

Summative Assessment

Component: Folio Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
folio of compositions 100%

Formative Assessment:

Weekly tutorials where work on the composition folio is assessed and discussed.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University