MA Music: Composition pathway
The Composition pathway is practice-based, taught course in contemporary concert composition (with or without electronics or other media). The pathway units and projects challenge composers to tackle musical, aesthetic, and practical issues facing composers in the 21st century.
With instruction in seminar, tutorial, and workshop formats, it emphasises a high level of engagement with performers and resident ensembles at Bristol.
Our programme will equip you for future work as a concert-music composer; or in fields relating to contemporary-music criticism, teaching, business or administration; or for research such as a PhD in composition or contemporary musicology.
What does the MA Music: Composition pathway deliver?
- regular seminar discussions that clarify the current contexts of new music, situating them inside of current (ethno-)musicological and performance debates;
- stimulation of imagination and creative ambition, targeted to the talents of the individual;
- units where MA composers and MA performers team up to realise new compositions;
- immersion in transcultural composition practice and aesthetics, appropriate to the 21st century;
- control of musical technique and professional standards of scoring and score presentation, and video presentations;
- training in ways of thinking and generative approaches for contemporary acoustic and optionally electro-acoustic and studio composition;
- professional workshops with our ensembles-in-residence (recently, for example, Bristol Ensemble, Shui Mo ensemble, Phaedra Ensemble), and with University and local amateur ensembles (e.g. the University Symphony Orchestra and New Music Ensemble, COMA national and South West);
- public concert possibilities within the University; at the Bristol New Music Festival; and with our partners around the city (e.g. Bristol Beacon, St George's, Arnolfini, etc);
- visiting high-calibre speakers and performers;
- opportunities to perform in chosen capacities (optional);
- a friendly and supportive academic environment with many opportunities for interactions with film/TV/game/media composers and PhD composers in a well equipped high ranking department and an outstandingly attractive city.
More information about MA Music