Module: CMT5101-20 Composition 4

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Dr Andy Keep

Module Tutor Contact Details: a.keep@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

Composition 4 aims to further develop your skills as a composer by helping you continue contextualising your own work within current compositional thought and cultural practice. This will be achieved by working on two projects, each responding to a different area of technical or aesthetic activity within the discipline.

2.Outline syllabus

You will undertake two composition projects, selected from a range of electives. These have included writing for specified ensembles, such as saxophone quartet, or for defined contexts, such as site-specific composition. Projects will include exploration of compositional aesthetics or techniques, composing in a collaborative or interdisciplinary context, and writing for specified ensembles. These have included writing for string quartet, composing with live electronics, or using found materials. Through this work you will continue to develop the scope of your compositional practice and experiment further with your personal voice as a composer. You will refine your notation and production skills and further develop your understanding of compositional techniques through the study of contemporary repertoire and the practical application of these skills.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Each project begins with a series of seminars designed to support your technical, aesthetic and contextual understanding of the work you are making. The seminars will present relevant existing work, consider the practical challenges relevant to the topic and explore the skills needed to address them. Your work will be supported by individual and/or group tutorials where you will work on your piece with tutor and peer support. Collaborative projects will include opportunities to work within a wider creative team through seminars, meetings, workshops and tutorials as required. You will prepare your piece for performance and/or recording on completion, and the piece will be presented to an audience in an appropriate way (such as a performance, recording, installation or online). In addition, regular symposia will bring all composition students together, regardless of their elective choices, to obtain crucial skills regarding your profession development as a composer.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Project 1

• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Project 2

• % Weighting: 50%