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MUSI3751: Techniques Portfolio (single)

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Type Open
Level 3
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Music

Prerequisites

  • MUSI2601 Advanced Musical Techniques

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • MUSI3762 Techniques Portfolio (double).

Aims

  • To provide an opportunity for students to express their creativity at advanced level through the production of a portfolio of pastiche compositions using techniques and styles from the 16th, 17th, 18th or19th centuries, or broadly 'tonal' styles from the early decades of the 20th century.

Content

  • Guidance will be given in tutorials on the composition of larger-scale works, including, but not limited to, passacaglia, fugue, chorale prelude, variations, sonata form movements, partsong, concert overture and orchestral character piece.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Students will become familiar with a range of compositional techniques that are available for the creation of music, and be able to demonstrate how these may be used imaginatively and effectively.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Students will acquire the skills necessary to compose with maturity, authority and originality, building on the aesthetic considerations and techniques they have encountered at Levels 1 and 2. A greater ambition is to be encouraged regarding the size and scope of composition at Level 3.

Key Skills:

  • Compositional techniques used in an appropriate way to articulate each student's musical ideas and to demonstrate an identification with various established styles.

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

  • The module will be delivered through individual tutorials through which students will be assisted in the preparation of a portfolio of pastiche compositions.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Tutorials8Spread out through the year, mainly in Terms 1 and 230 minutes4 
Reading, listening and preparation196 
TOTAL200 

Summative Assessment

Component: Portfolio of Pastiche CompositionsComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Portfolio of Pastiche Compositions lasting between 10 and 12 minutes in all, (excluding exactly repeated sections such as sonata expositions), with an accompanying 1,200 word commentary10-12 minutes with an accompanying 1,200 word commentary100no

Formative Assessment

Small technical exercises set at tutorials. An excerpt of c. 2 minutes will be expected by the first term.

More information

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