Module: Orchestration & Contemporary Composition

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Orchestration & Contemporary Composition
Module Code	MC401 (ITS) / MPA1065 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Theology, Philosophy & Music
Module Co-ordinator	Seán Doherty
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Coursework Only

Description

This module explores key concepts and techniques in orchestration, contemporary composition, and music technology through practical tasks and creative composition. Students will gain an understanding of orchestral instruments, performance techniques, instrumental sections, and important repertoire. They will use music analysis to identify the melodic, harmonic, and bass functions of piano scores, and will distribute these to the appropriate orchestral instruments/sections in their artistic orchestration. Students will develop their music technology skills as they manipulate recordings to create compositions of Musique concrète. They will perform and analyse Minimalist works to identify their key compositional techniques. They will use these techniques to compose a work for symphony orchestra as the culmination of their current study in composition.

Learning Outcomes

1. Display an understanding and appreciation of key concepts and techniques in orchestration, contemporary composition, and music technology.
2. Compose short exercises in relevant forms and textures
3. Utilise literacy, performance and compositional skills appropriate to the level
4. Present and manipulate relevant composition work in appropriate notation software
5. Adapt the acquired compositional, performance, literacy and technological skills to the contexts of teaching and research.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lecture on course content
Assignment Completion	48	Weekly compositional tasks appropriate to course stage
Independent Study	53	Reading, music, listening, score study
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Orchestration
Study of orchestration in a range of repertoire; laying out a score; transcription from short score to open score; instrumental ranges, combinations, and orchestrating for specific ensembles.

Original composition in Contemporary Style
New forms and new techniques; minimalist styles; electronic media.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	Contemporary Techniques	50%	Week 6
Assignment	Orchestration	50%	Week 12

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Sevsay, E: 2013, The Cambridge Guide to Orchestration, Cambridge University Press., Cambridge,
Cope, D.: 1997, Techniques of the Contemporary Composer, Schirmer/ Cengage Learning, New York,
Gould, E.: 2011, Behind Bars: The Definitive Guide to Music Notation, Faber Music., London,

Other Resources

50220, website, 0, MuseScore Resources, http://www.musescore.org/, 50221, website, 0, Online Scores, http://www.imslp.org/, 50226, Website, Open Music Theory, 0, Orchestration, https://viva.pressbooks.pub/openmusictheory/part/orchestration/,