BA Music and Drama / Course details

A course dealing with a broad range of compositional techniques involving the use of cutting-edge technology and building upon studio-based electroacoustic composition concepts and methodologies encountered in other related course-units, extending into a wide range of material contexts, practical techniques, performance issues and advanced sound processing.

Pre- requisite :       The Electroacoustic component of MUSC10311 / MUSC10312

• To develop studio-based compositional methodologies
• To provide enhanced skills in sound capture, processing and manipulation, including FFT and live electronics MaxMSP environments
• To explore concepts of live sound diffusion and interpretation
• To create software-based environments for interactive sonic creativity with human interface devices and computers
• To introduce issues related to performance as encountered in the medium

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Apply enhanced skills in sound processing and electroacoustic composition
• Increase imagination and techniques in developing sonic material
• Develop skills in creating and performing fixed-media electroacoustic music

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Demonstrate more advanced knowledge of studio-based compositional methodologies
• Understand spectromorphology and space-form as wider contexts for musical and sonic vocabulary and grammar as well as performance
• Understand methodologies relating to sonic, musical and performance in fixed media-music
   

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Navigate in-depth concepts relating to space and timbre;
• Develop gesture and texture driven structuring processes.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Apply a technical knowledge of software techniques and sound recordings in realizing fixed media works
• Demonstrate enhanced skill in using technology to achieve meaning and expression through sound 
• Implement at professional level the Format of Composition submission of audio content, designed and approved by the composition staff
• Prepare and deliver a presentation/performance through coursework as a formative experience toward completing the electroacoustic musical outcomes and tasks
• Demonstrate enhanced skills in sound processing, visual oriented programming and electroacoustic composition
• Develop sonic material more imaginatively
• Utilise a wide range of studio tools in the capture, development and performance of electroacoustic music
   

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Collaborate with other students in problem-solving dealing both with technology and creative issues
• Demonstrate organisational and management skills in making use of studio time and access, booking musicians if needed, working with technology and preparing recordings and mastering of final works, and preparing an in-class performance
• Demonstrate attention to detail through the compositional methods and the crafting and editing of recorded and transformed sound, preparing compositions to professional standards
• Demonstrate the development of dialogue through teaching and workshops, whilst developing communicative abilities and to communicate a specific point of views and compositional strategies during the creative process
   

• Oral feedback on in class set tasks presentation
• Written feedback on final project
• Additional one-to-one feedback (during consultation hour or by making an appointment)

Periodicals held in the library:

• Computer Music Journal¿
• Organized Sound

Books held in the library:

• Emmerson, Simon. The Language of Electroacoustic Music
• Manning, Peter. Electronic and Computer Music
• Roads, Curtis. Computer Music Tutorial
• Rowe, Robert. Interactive Music Systems
• Rowe, Robert. Machine Musicianship
• Wanderley Marcelo M. and Battier, Marc (eds.) Trends in Gestural Control of Music
• Wishart, Trevor. On Sonic Art

Repertoire examples as indicated in-class