Music 6421 is a seminar on the composition of live electroacoustic and computer generated music. The central thread of the course follows the writing of three short study pieces: the first for a live electronics, the second for a soloist with electronics, and the last for orchestra, wind ensemble, or chorus. All three pieces will be written, read, and discussed in class and individually. Beyond the weekly seminar meeting time (2hrs per week), individual sessions are offered (1hr per week).
Along the way we will examine and discuss works from the electroacoustic music “canon” as well as pieces of student interest, looking at them critically and analytically, teasing out the ideas and techniques that went into their design and performance. In some cases, we will construct our own implementations of these pieces using both the original means and course software and hardware.
Grading for the semester is as follows:
10% Assignments and participation
10% End of semester listening examination (see list below)
20% Repertoire Project (see below for details)
60% Three semester study pieces (20% each)
Class attendance is mandatory and class participation is absolutely essential.
Facilities: Studio A (B27) will be our primary studio with overflow workstations in B25B-D (mostly used by undergraduates). In addition, there is a developing mobile rig usable for performances and remote recording. Visit the course website and follow the link to “studio signup”.
All assignments and project are to be handed in via this website. Watch for assignments and their upload locations here.
Repertoire Project Guidelines
Each student will choose a historic work to discuss and realize, using either contemporary or “period tools”, depending on the intention of the realization. The resulting piece will be presented in a public lecture/presentation about the work, its origins and context, it’s original software and hardware realization, as well as its compositional design and aesthetic. Depending on the nature of the work and the availability of information, the realization itself may be partial or demontrational or may only realize a particular aspect of the work you find interesting. Or the realization might reveal a new use for an old tool or am unseen potential for new one.
You are encouraged to consult directly with Professor Ernste to discuss potential topics of interest.
All assignments and project are to be handed in via this website. Watch for assignments and their upload locations here.