Postgraduate Course: Composers' Seminar B (MUSI11056)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Music composition requires extensive understanding not just of the technicalities of inventing and notating musical materials, and the effective use of performance resources, but also of the intellectual, social, artistic and organisational contexts within which music operates. This weekly series of research seminars will follow from the materials developed in Composers¿ Seminar A. They will concentrate on the analysis and discussion of texts in the form of scores and recorded performances. The texts discussed will be guided both by contemporary concerns, and by the interests of the group. There will also be some practical workshops on aspects of music performance. |
| Course description |
Aims of the Course
- to develop a critical approach to the analysis and discussion of musical texts, and a critical approach to the nature of the text itself.
- to improve knowledge and understanding of the techniques of music performance, within a broad context.
- to develop skills of presentation and discourse .
This seminar will aim to survey current research in the field of creative work in music, in an inter-disciplinary context. Within that, three key components will be addressed:
- The nature of musical texts, notated, recorded or otherwise inscribed; including am investigation of the relationship between text and performance.
- Analytical strategies, appropriate for different texts, and for different types of engagement with a text.
- The nature of the relationship between composer and performer, both in terms of compositional approach and practical social engagement.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment will consist of two components: a written essay of not more than 3000 words and an oral presentation. Both components will be independently double marked. The essay will investigate and discuss one topic related to the seminar materials. It will take the form of a critical analysis of a chosen text. The essay will be judged on the basis of its focus, thoroughness, scholarly approach and the originality of its critical perceptions. Criteria for assessment may include some or all of the following:
- Breadth of literature survey«
Sophistication of the analysis and discussion You will demonstrate the ability to present, analyse and critically evaluate practical, theoretical and philosophical issues related to artistic creation in the form of a written essay.
- Literary style
- Originality of the critical perceptions of the chosen text
The oral presentation will focus on the student's own creative work. It will test the ability to present convincingly in a public forum, and to analyse and discuss practical, theoretical and/or philosophical issues related to the student's own creative work in a clear and communicative fashion. Criteria for assessment may include some or all of the following:
- Clarity and effectiveness of presentation style
- Use of visual and/or audio materials«
- Focus of the material
- Ability to engage with an audience
- Clarity and sophistication of the discussion
Learning outcomes assessed:
The ability to analyse and discuss a chosen text from a critical perspective. 80%
You will demonstrate the ability to give a convincing oral presentation, that analyses and discusses practical, theoretical and/or philosophical issues related to your own creative work. 20%«
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to approach musical texts with a critical awareness.
- Demonstrate an informed approach to the various situations of music performance.
- Demonstrate the ability to analyse, present and discuss practical and theoretical issues related to music creation.
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Reading List
Clarke, E. and N. Cook (eds). 2004. Empirical Musicology: Aims, Methods, Prospects. New York; Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Barthes, R. 1984. Image, Music, Text. London: Fontana.
Goddard, M., B. Halligan and N. Spelman (eds). 2013. Resonances: Noise and Contemporary Music. London: Bloomsbury.
Attinello, P., C. Fox and M. Iddon (eds). 2007. Other Darmstadts. Contemporary Music Review, 26 (1).
Donin, N. (ed.). 2011. (De)Composing Sound. Contemporary Music Review, 30 (5).
Current issues of the journals:
Contemporary Music Review
Tempo
Computer Music Journal
Leonardo Music
The Wire
Organised Sound
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Analytical skills
Discussion and collaboration
Presentation skills.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Peter Nelson
Tel: (0131 6)50 2428
Email: P.Nelson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Emma Binks
Tel: (0131 6)51 5740
Email: Emma.Binks@ed.ac.uk |
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