BA Music and Drama

Students will study tonal harmony and counterpoint through exercises in two principal areas:

• Chorale harmonisation in the style of J. S. Bach stimulates investigation of the structure of basic tonal chords, their relationship to one another in a given key, and their functions with respect to phrasing and cadence. It also introduces the concept of modulation and the relationships between keys in the course of a piece, and highlights some of the demands of four-part vocal writing both in terms of chordal voicing and the shaping of individual lines
• Two-part counterpoint in the style of Palestrina focuses on line and counterpoint at an introductory level, giving students a sense of how musical lines are shaped, and how in simple combination they interact to create a harmonically convincing whole. By focussing on the style of Palestrina, students will experience the fundamentals of Sixteenth Century counterpoint, giving additional context for their understanding of J.S. Bach. Students will have the opportunity to hear their work performed in a dedicated workshop towards the end of the semester

• To provide a foundation for understanding the concepts of consonance and dissonance within the context of early tonal music
• To enable students to develop practical skills in the manipulation of musical materials within the parameters of set styles

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• the concepts of consonance and dissonance
• the interaction between line and harmony, within defined musical styles (ie, what makes a convincing line; what makes a meaningful harmonic progression)
• how composers in the Sixteenth Century, and how J.S. Bach approached harmony and counterpoint

• Demonstrate competence in the manipulation of musical line and harmony according to accepted conventions of early tonal music
• Make sophisticated musical judgements according to these principals

• Apply the skills they have acquired to the idiomatic completion of fragmentary musical textures, and to the composition of simple pastiche compositions from scratch
• Notate their work to a high standard, so that it can be easily read by performers

• Demonstrate enhanced problem solving — thinking through problems in a logical way in order to determine key issues
• Demonstrate increased creative skills
• Demonstrate a flexibility of approach in application of understanding to defined musical scenarios

• Formative feedback on weekly tasks in tutorials
• Formative feedback on Cantus Firmus exercise in workshop
• Summative feedback on exam

• Bach, J.S., ed. Riemenschneider, Albert, ‘371 Harmonized Chorales and 69 Chorale Melodies with Figured Bass’, London : Chappell, 1941 (NB! You are expected to own a copy of this)
• Boyd, Malcolm, ‘Harmonizing ‘Bach’ chorales’, London: Barrie and Rockcliff, 1967 (one-night loan in Lenagan)
• Boyd, Malcolm, ‘Palestrina’s Style’, Oxford University Press, 1973 (one-night loan in Lenagan)
• Morley, Thomas, ed. Harman, R. Alec, ‘A Plain and Easy Introduction to Practical Music’, London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd., 1952 (available from library as e-book)
• Palestrina, G.P. da, ‘The complete works of G.P. da Palestrina’, Kalmus, 1960
• Swindale, Owen, ‘Polyphonic Composition’, Oxford University Press, 1962 (one-night loan in Lenagan; copies in Main library)