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MUSI2541: Orchestration

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Type Open
Level 2
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Music

Prerequisites

  • A-Level in Music or equivalent.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To equip students with skills in arrangement and orchestration.

Content

  • Students are provided with an introduction to orchestration techniques and the arrangement of piano pieces. The study of the sections of the orchestra is provided, including strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. The layout of scores and notational conventions is examined, as is the preparation of parts when and if relevant. Historical overviews are given through the study of techniques from the Classical period to the first half of the twentieth century. Practical workshops may be given on an ad hoc basis.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Knowledge of the capabilities of individual instruments and their historical and modern function within the orchestra. Students will also study how specific syntactical and expressive factors motivate scoring decisions.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • The development of instrumental writing and scoring in an orchestral context.

Key Skills:

  • The development of problem-solving issues of a practical nature in the craft of orchestration, taking into account the possibilities of individual instruments and their use in wider compositional contexts.

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

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials/seminars
  • Independent study of set texts and scores.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures20Weekly during terms 1 and 290 minutes30 
Group Tutorials/seminars2During terms 1 and 230 minutes1 
Preparation and Reading169 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: Orchestration ExerciseComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Task orchestrating a short piano piece 5 minutes duration100Yes

Formative Assessment

Students are given several formative assignments directly related to the type of work they prepare for their summative assessment. The first assignments generally revolve around orchestrating piano music for individual sections of the orchestra or sections in combination. Later formative assignments involve orchestrating piano music for full orchestra based on historical models. Assignments may also include making a condensed score of a passage from an orchestral work.

More information

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