Chief Study
Composition
Semester 1, 2011
Unit Guides
for unit guides
go to the blackboard page for your unit and there will
be a link given there.
Weekly
Listening
As documented in
the Unit Guide you are required to complete weekly
listening and score study. Each week you should select of work from the
list given in the link below:
Listening
List
Scores and CDs
can be located in the Music and Multimedia Library. See
the Library
Database Catalogue
See the Music
and Multimedia Library site for the on-line audio
streaming and other online resources such as the The
New
Grove dictionary of music and musicians
Your comments
about your listening, study and research can be posted to
the composition blog. See:
http://monashcomposers.wordpress.com/
Always follow a
score when doing your listening. Make your posts
limited to a discussion of compositional technique and focus on what
you can learn from listening to the piece of music you are listening
to. You can use dot points if you want to.
1st Year Suggested
Listening
and Score Study
Bach, J.
Brandenburg Concerto's No:1 to 3
Berg, A. Lyric
Suite
Bartok, B.
Mikrokosmos Vol. 1 (transformation)
Copland,
A. Appalachian Spring (melodic variation)
Rachmaninoff, S.
Preludes (piano texture)
Reich, S. Music
for Pieces of Wood (rhythmic variation)
Reich, S. City
Life (rhythmic variation, motivic development)
Schulthorpe, P.
Kakadu (imitation)
Stravinsky, I.
The Firebird Suite (rhythmic variation)
Stravinsky, I.
The Rite of Spring (transformation)
Webern, A.
Symphony Op. 21, 2nd Mov. (Serialism, order transformation)
The Sonic Art
Project
Initially the
Sonic Art Project will focus on you gathering the
resources to make music for the internet and to get your music up on
the internet via soundcloud
and
the Monash Composers blog.
To post your
sonic art pieces you need to:
- join sound cloud (its free): http://soundcloud.com/
- join the monash sonic art
project: http://soundcloud.com/groups/monashsonicartproject
- up load your pieces as you
create them to your account
- share the uploaded piece to
the group by clicking on the
“share to group” button in the audio clip display.
You can then put
you soundcloud clips onto the Monash Composers blog.
The main goal of
the project is for you to work out ways to make your
music for the internet and to find ways to present it to an internet
public using the blog.
Composition
Projects
1st and 2nd Years:
set tasks
- write a melody the two
simplified versions of the
melody. While looking at the simplified versions, think about
the
underlying shape and logic of your melody and try changing it to get a
better result. For study see: Melody
Lecture Notes and NorwegianWood.pdf
- Write 8 cantus firmi then
write a melody based on one of the
cantus firmus that you have written. See CantusFirmus.pdf
- Write a short melodic
fragment or motiv then create a short
piece by transforming the original using pitch transformation methods.
Do this exercise at least 8 times focusing on different techniques.
You should try to use two techniques at once in at least of of the
exercises. Write only a melodic line unaccompanied.
- Write a well crafted piece (max 16 bars) consisting of a melody
that uses simple motives only (avoid complicated rhythm or
accidentals). You can make some alterations to the rhythm as has been
demonstrated in the consultation sessions but you focus should still be
on the melodic line. You can also write a monophonic bass line which is
derived from the material of the melodic line. You might consider using
some limited form of rhythmic transformation as well as pitch
transformation. May the bass line "talk" or resond to the melody in
some way.
- Write an exercise focusing on rhythm (max 16 bars) . To do this
write two parts; one with a simple repeated pulse and the other with a
motiv that is transformed. Avoid using pitch (you can use percussion
instruments or if you want to use pitched instrument you can use
octaves only).
- Write a piece focusing on order based transformation (max 16
bars).
Use a simple motiv that has some rhythmic variation and some clear
shape in terms of pitch. Before writing the piece do sketches that
illustrate various orderings of the motiv. Then decide on a method or
methods and create a piece.
- Write a piece approx. 32 measures long. Use only two monophonic
lines (like a piece for two woodwind instruments if you like). The two
lines
should function as melody and bass lines. Focus on developing the music
by applying any (but not all) transformation that we have looked at.
Write the melody so that it takes the full length of the piece to be
heard (so avoid literal repeats of material. The bass line should
relate to the melody line but it should be different.
Handing up your work.
The due date for handup of your work will be June 10.
Hand up your work in a pocket style folder.
Place it in the assignment
box together with a signed assignment sheet.
Make sure you hand up the following:
1) a CD containing all of the files that you have made with the files
clearly labeled according to the task set
2) a printed version of your tasks and and significant sketching that
you have done.
3) If you have not posted to the blog, put in your notes for the
listening
4) include a cover sheet that states what you are handing up and also
your arrangements for meeting the ensemble hurdle requirement (if you
need to do the "essay" for me just do an extended listening study -
preferably posted to the blog but a print out will be fine also).
For 2nd and 3rd year students doing negotiated projects please consult
with me as to the appropriate handup format although in most cases you
will probably know this.
Further
Study Materials for Musical transformation:
TransformationToolkit.pdf
TransformationToolkit.sib
MP3
version of the toolkit
Some tutorials you might like to look at:
TransformationTask1.pdf
Transformation2.pdf
Belkin, A. A
Practical Guide to Composition
Solomon, L. Resources in Music
Composition
Related Score Study
Look for the use
of transformation in:
Beethoven, L.
Diabelli Variations (transformation)
Analysis of
themes and motivs:
diabelli1_11.html,
diabelli12_22.html,
diabelli23_33.html
Full Score
Theme and
Variations 1 - 18& 19-32:
DiabelliVariations/btdv1_18.pdf,
DiabelliVariations/btdv1932.pdf
3rd Year
Composition
Negotiatied
Projects.
Workshop topics
- topics taken from ATS2807 a copy of the materials is
provided here.