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MUSI2541: Orchestration

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Type Tied
Level 2
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2025/2026
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Music

Prerequisites

  • None.

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 sections of the symphony orchestra (strings, woodwind, brass and percussion) are studied. The layout of scores and notational conventions is examined. Historical examples are analysed: some may be from the Classical period but the main focus is on the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 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 various compositional contexts.

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

  • Lectures, usually incorporating small-scale practical exercises.
  • Tutorials/seminars
  • Independent study of set texts and scores. Students who have yet to cultivate score-reading are advised to acquaint themselves with as many scores as possible before the module begins. The work of Ravel is a good starting point. Many scores are available in the University Library but most well-known works that are out of copyright, as well as works by neglected composers, can be found on IMSLP.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures20Weekly during terms 1 and 21 hour20Yes
Tutorials2During terms 1 and 21 hour2Yes
Preparation and Reading178 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: Orchestration ExerciseComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
PracticalOrchestrating a short piano piece approx.3-5 minutes depending on the tempo of the source material100

Formative Assessment

Students are given formative assignments directly related to the type of work they prepare for their summative assessment. At least one formative assignment will involve orchestrating piano music for full orchestra in a historically informed manner.

More information

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