Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2022-2023 (archived)

Module MUSI43730: Advanced Projects in Stylistic Composition and Arranging

Department: Music

MUSI43730: Advanced Projects in Stylistic Composition and Arranging

Type	Tied	Level	4	Credits	30	Availability	Available in 2022/23

Tied to	W3K707

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Excluded Combination of Modules

None

Aims

To develop skills in historical pastiche composition and/or arranging.
To encourage the fruitful association of compositional and analytical skills.

Content

Under the guidance of an appropriate member of staff, each student will devise and carry out a project of one of the following types: (1) composition of one or more works in a given historical style (or styles), accompanied by a full analytical commentary (including a fully annotated score, produced concurrently with the composition and showing relevant details such as harmonic progressions, figuration, and main motives); (2) an advanced instrumental and/or vocal orchestration/arranging project, also accompanied by a commentary and condensed score illustrating the rationale of the scoring.
The project may be related to a specific analytical interest, e.g., dissonance treatment in a particular style or genre.
The project may relate to music of any genre, ensemble type or historical period, subject to availability of appropriate supervisory expertise.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

advanced knowledge of particular musical repertoires
advanced knowledge of relevant principles and concepts of musical grammar and form
advanced knowledge of particular compositional techniques relevant to a given genre and period
advanced knowledge of principles and techniques of arranging

Subject-specific Skills:

the ability to work creatively within a given historical idiom
rigorous, critical reflection on one’s own creative work (rather than reliance on intuition)
application of analytical skills to creative work
advanced competence in musical literacy

Key Skills:

ability to analyse critically
an advanced degree of competence in the planning and execution of complete works
effective time management and the ability to work to deadlines
professional presentation skills
problem-solving skills

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

The project will be discussed during meetings, like a dissertation.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Individual consultations	5	Through the 3 terms	1 hour	5
Preparation and Reading				295
TOTAL				300

Summative Assessment

Component: Scores		Component Weighting: 60%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Compositions/arrangements	8-10 minutes, not counting exactly repeated sections such as expositions, non-varied rondo themes etc.	100%	Yes
Component: Essay		Component Weighting: 40%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Commentary	2,000 words, plus music examples including fully annotated score(s) of all compositions/arrangements	100%

Formative Assessment:

Passages from the planned pieces should be submitted regularly and discussed in meetings.

■ 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