This module will explore the analysis of instrumental music, from a range of genres. Students will develop their creative work, by applying their analytical understanding of a chosen style to creating new arrangements and orchestrations. They will develop skills in arranging a melody, formulating a harmonic support, structural layout, in a manner which is appropriate for the chosen style. They will also develop skills in orchestration with reference to a chosen genre.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
The module will be project based and will invite students to select a specific genre to work in and to:
Lectures will study music of a specific genre and identify the characteristic features of the style and how the instruments and musical elements function. A range of analytical techniques will be explored, including structural, harmonic, motivic and textural approaches to analysis. Some small group tutorial support will be offered on the major assignment.
Seminars/Workshops and tutorials 44 hours
Independent guided study 256 hours
Seminars will include:
Teaching Block 1
Harmony 1 and 2: the importance of the bass; chordal relationships, extended chords, cadences
How to present a piece of musical analysis 1 and 2: structural diagrams, motivic analysis, discussing style
Structure: strophic form, variation, rondo, incorporating solos
Analytical case studies
Instrumentation 1-5: strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, voice
Writing and working with a groove
Interpreting a lead sheet
Teaching Block 2
Arranging for small ensemble 1 and 2: using a skeleton score; arranging for a flexible ensemble
Arranging for larger ensemble 1 and 2: big band, choir, orchestra and theatre band
Approaches to orchestration 1 and 2 – what to identify in the piano score, how to voice the score
Case studies 1 and 2: composers orchestrating their own music and orchestrations by others
Orchestration: stylistic parameters
3 Workshops on Arrangements and Orchestrations will support the above seminars in teaching block 2.
Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | Seminar Workshops | 38 6 |
Guided independent study | 256 | |
Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 |
Assessment is by a range of applied takes which ensure the skills of arranging and orchestration are first theoretically and analytically understood. The first assignment, an analytical task, requires students to analyse the musical structure, harmonic language and instrumental application (with reference to specific musical elements) in order to establish the significant features of a particular musical style. The second two assignments apply the stylistic, theoretical understanding in practice, by creating an arrangement of a given melody. The arrangement requires students to take a short given melody (chosen from a choice of 2) and to arrange it for a specific ensemble and musical style. The style and ensemble they chose should be consistent with that of their musical analysis. The principals of the analysis are applied via the harmonic, structural and instrumental choices that are made. An orchestration of a given piano piece requires students to produce a piece for a larger ensemble which is voiced in a style appropriate for that of the composer, e.g. if a Debussy piano work is orchestrated, the orchestrated version should be presented in a style consistent with Debussy's orchestral music. These skills are central to students who wish to move into teaching, studio work, composing for TV and Film and for freelance musicians.
1) analytical assignment (from a choice of pieces, from different genres);
2) an arrangement (which applies the principals of the analysis) from a choice of two given melodies;
3) an orchestration (which applied the principals of the analysis) from a choice of piano music.
Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
---|---|
identify genre specific traits in music and to explain them in written and notated formats | Harmonic, melodic, rhythmic, textural analyses of a selected work. |
employ appropriate techniques to analyse music, explaining its structure and organisational principles; | Structural analysis of the selected work. |
arrange music in a coherent and sophisticated manner, employing advanced techniques; | An arrangement of a provided melody employing the genre specific traits identified in the analyses. |
orchestrate music in a coherent and sophisticated manner, utilising appropriate stylistic language and instrumental application. | An orchestration of a provided piano piece employing the genre specific traits (composer traits) identified in the analyses. |
Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
---|---|---|
CWK | Portfolio | 100 |
Total (to equal 100%) | 100% |
It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module
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