Module: Advanced Harmony

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Advanced Harmony
Module Code	MC414 (ITS) / MPA1077 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Theology, Philosophy & Music
Module Co-ordinator	Linda Adams
Module Teachers	Greg Felton
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Repeat examination

Description

A module designed to help all participants to develop a thorough grasp of advanced harmonic approaches and techniques. Learners will study masterworks from both modern classical and jazz repertoire including the works of John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Cecil Taylor, Igor Stravinsky, Belá Bartok, and Anton Webern and compose short pieces based on their concepts

Learning Outcomes

1. Develop a high level harmonic technique capable of meeting all harmonic challenges faced in a contemporary musical environment
2. Learn how to utilise these skills for creative composition, arranging and performance.
3. Learn to effectively analyse their own work and the work of others
4. Learn how to creatively use the information gleaned from these analyses

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Weekly, a one-hour group lecture-workshop
Independent Study	101	Create compositions, study and analyse harmonic techniques used in contemporary music, both composed and improvised
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

Harmonic and Compositional Techniques
° Chromatic harmony approaches ° Reharmonisation of standard material ° Double and triple-slash polychords ° Use of effective pedal point ° Creation of synthetic scales

Survey of Modern Jazz and Classical Composers
° John Coltrane ° Eric Dolphy ° Cecil Taylor ° Igor Stravinsky ° Belá Bartok ° Anton Webern

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Music Composition	Five compositions demonstrating a technical grasp of advanced harmonic and composition concepts including motivic ideas, contrast, form, tension and release, and accompanied by a written analysis	100%	Sem 2 End

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

Liebman, Dave: 2015, A Chromatic Approach to Jazz Harmony and Melody, Advance Music,
Ulehla, Ludmila: 2015, Contemporary Harmony – Romanticism through the Twelve-Tone Row,, Advance Music,
Dobbins, Bill: 2016, A Creative Approach to Jazz Piano Harmony, Advance Music,
Bartok, Bela: 0, Six String Quartets, Boosey and Hawkes,
Liebman/Beirach/Dobbins: 1986, The Duo Live – transcription for soprano and piano,

Other Resources

None