Unit name | Technical Studies I: Harmony and Harmonic Analysis |
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Unit code | MUSI10047 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
Unit director | Dr. Scott |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Music |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
The purpose of this unit is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to develop a basic grasp of the subject that will enable them to deal confidently with the various composition and analysis courses that are offered in subsequent semesters. Key compositional techniques and a wide range of chords will be explored in the music of the classical and early romantic periods. In the second TB, students will study the harmonic and contrapuntal procedures of the baroque period with reference primarily to the work of Corelli and Bach. The emphasis will be on 2-part writing, beginning with the composition of simple dance movements for violin and continuo in the manner of Corelli and gradually progressing towards the 2-part invention style of Bach. At various stages, the developing harmonic language of the period will be explored with reference to Bach’s chorale harmonisations. Students will also be given an opportunity to develop further their fluency and confidence in the application and practice of figured bass.
Aims:
This unit aims to introduce the principal techniques of tonal harmonic composition, including a thorough investigation of the basic building-blocks of Western tonal music (including melody, consonance/dissonance, simple voice-leading patterns, phrase and cadence schemes, rhythm, motive, chord grammar, key, modulation, etc.), and reductive analysis techniques in relation to music of the 18th century, providing a foundation for the understanding of baroque compositional styles to be investigated in Technical Studies II.
Successful completion of this unit will enable students:
Weekly hour-long classes (cohort divided into groups A and B), plus a weekly hour-long workshop for the whole cohort, across 22 teaching weeks; sign-up tutorial sessions are available with the unit director where required.
Fortnightly exercises for credit in TB1, plus occasional exercises for credit in TB2
1) TB1: a technical assignment, consisting of the composition of a movement in the style of Mozart or Haydn for piano (50%) Learning outcomes 2, 3 and 4 are demonstrated in the assignment 1
2) TB2: Two coursework assignments (10%+10%) and an extended final assignment (30%) Successful attainment of assignment 2 will enable students to demonstrate outcomes 5, 6 and 7.
Prescribed scores to be identified during the unit, but including simple dance movements for keyboard mainly from the middle years of the 18th century.