Last modified: 22 May 2019 17:07
This course is designed to encourage composers and performers to engage with the ‘orchestrational’ aspects of composing for choir, with particular emphasis upon each section of the choir, its characteristics, compass and blend, and how each part relates to the whole; creating chords that utilise the choir fully, blending choral chords, voice-leading, structuring choral music; the joys and problems when composing for choir with accompaniment (piano, organ & orchestra) and arranging for the voice.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | None. | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
|
||
Teaching will be by means of a series of practical seminars and workshops examining the orchestrational aspects of major choral works from Bach to Ligeti and beyond. We will also examine aspects of world music, folk music and popular music and consider how these genres have affected contemporary choral composers and the way in which choral writing has developed. Running concurrently, seminar-based classes will provide an historical overview of choral orchestration that utilises the choir. The theme of each seminar, focused each week around a different aspect of the voice and choir ‘machine’, will provide the theoretical, philosophical, and aesthetic basis for practical applications. Drawing from readings, close analysis and listening of key choral works, we will assess particular aesthetic issues that concern choral orchestration today.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
First attempt: in-class participation and practical exercises (30%); final compositional project (70%). Resit: students resit any failed element of assessment.
There are no assessments for this course.
We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.
