BA Music and Drama

Students will learn the principles of harmony and counterpoint to an advanced level, through writing short fughettas in the late Baroque style, and harmonising songs in the style of Schubert and Schumann, with the aid of both practical observation and study of theoretical principles.

MUSC10112 is a pre req of MUSC20111 Harmony & Counterpoint

• To ensure a familiarity with, and understanding of, some fundamental idioms of Western musical language
• To gain fluency in manipulating notes within a given style
• To develop the ear
• To develop good practice in musical notation and calligraphy
• To gain in-depth knowledge of some major works and the principles on which they are constructed

Weekly tutorials, at which students have exercises corrected by the tutor and the underlying principles explained to them. Each student receives individual attention each week except in the two weeks when there are lectures. 

 

• Understand the basic principles of harmony and counterpoint in the common-practice Western tradition, to an advanced level
• Recognise some songs by Schubert and Schumann and fugues from Bach’s Das wohltemperirte Clavier, and the principles on which they are constructed

• Manipulate notes on paper, and recognise any faulty harmony and part-writing in the tonal idiom
• Relate sounds to notation more effectively

• Harmonise melodies from the core Western Classical tradition
• Write fluent counterpoint, exhibiting skill in part-writing and imitation
• Create soundly constructed music within the tonal idiom, combining their knowledge of harmonic and contrapuntal principles

• Think more clearly and logically, especially in relation to any concepts involving both numerical and linguistic competence
• Possess greater skills at problem solving and creative thinking
• Challenge received wisdom more effectively.

Portfolio of fughettas

50%

Exam

50%

 

• Weekly oral and written feedback on their exercises
• Additional one-to-one feedback if required (during the consultation hour or by making an appointment)

• Bach, Das wohltemperirte Clavier (48 Preludes and Fugues), Book 1
• Schubert, any volume of his Lieder
• Schumann, any volume of his Lieder

These items are readily accessible on the IMSLP website and can be downloaded and printed off from it