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MU5007: RENAISSANCE COUNTERPOINT (2017-2018)

Last modified: 27 Feb 2018 12:20


Course Overview

This course is intended both for those interested in Renaissance music and for composition students who wish to explore the many possibilities of musical invention within a very controlled compositional environment. To acquire the basic tools of Renaissance composition, students progress through counterpoint exercises in two and three voices. Through more advanced exercises in motivic placement, canon, invertible counterpoint, and the fundamentals of improvised counterpoint, students learn to structure a complete composition, culminating in a motet for three voices. In addition, works are studied through analysis of compositions.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Frauke Jurgensen

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • One of Master of Music (Studied) or Master of Music in Vocal Music (Studied) or Master of Music in Sonic Arts
  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course is intended both for those interested in Renaissance music and for composition students who wish to explore the many possibilities of musical invention within a very controlled compositional environment. To acquire the basic tools of Renaissance composition, students progress through species counterpoint exercises in two and three voices. Through more advanced exercises in motivic placement, canon (with and without cantus firmus), invertible counterpoint, and the fundamentals of improvised counterpoint, students learn to structure a complete composition, culminating in a motet for three voices. In addition, contemporaneous works are studied through analysis of compositions and investigation of treatises.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st attempt: portfolio of compositions (both levels): 75% Seminar presentation on a composition treatise of the period: 25%. Resit: Students resit failed elements.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Feedback

None.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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