Module WMP-4109:
Investigating Music
Investigating Music 2024-25
WMP-4109
2024-25
School of Arts, Culture And Language
Module - Semester 1
20 credits
Module Organiser:
John Cunningham
Overview
This module develops high-level skills of thinking about music that are crucial to Masters-level study in musicology, composition and performance. Through the prism of a range of musical repertoire, the module explores a selection of issues and debates of key relevance to advanced musical activity today, both within academia and beyond. It encourages each student – whether musicologist, composer or performer – to consider how their field of activity is directly informed by other fields, and to produce work in their specialised areas which reflects this interdependence. Indicative topics for discussion might include (in alphabetical order):
- adaptation
- analysis
- audiences and institutions
- authorship, individuality, and intellectual property
- editions
- high brow vs. low brow
- music and the digital world
- music for children
- music in theatre and film
- musicologically-informed performance
- nationalism and politics
- questions of style
- word-text relations
Each week topics will be explored from a range of perspectives, with the aim of encouraging students to consider how their field of activity (musicology, performance, composition) is directly informed by other fields, and to consider their interdependence. Preparation tasks are set in advance of the classes and students are expected to participate in discussion. The exact syllabus is subject to change, but students can expect to engage with topics such as:
- adaptation
- analysis
- audiences and institutions
- authorship, individuality, and intellectual property
- editions and their role in shaping traditions
- high brow vs. low brow
- music and the digital world
- music for children
- music in theatre and film
- musicologically-informed performance
- nationalism and politics
- questions of style
- word-text relations
Assessment Strategy
Threshold (C– to C+, 50-59%) Work which demonstrates an understanding of the module content and the ability to think in an informed and logical manner, and which is expressed coherently.
Good (B– to B+, 60-69%) Work which demonstrates mastery of the module content and the ability to think in a considered manner, and which is expressed with clarity and acuity.
Excellent (A– to A*, 70-100%) Work which demonstrates new insight into the module content and the ability to think in an original and conceptual manner, and which is expressed persuasively.
Relevant Masters-level Explicit Marking Criteria (for Musicology, Composition, and/or Music Performance) will also be used when assessing student work on this module. These may be found on the Blackboard page for this module.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop informed ideas about music, built constructively on the ideas of others.
- Express advanced ideas about music, and argue from their position.
- Identify and profit from links between musicological enquiry and the practices of composition and performance.
Assessment method
Individual Presentation
Assessment type
Summative
Description
Presentations will be delivered in the Week 8 class, and in subsequent weeks if the number of students necessitates. The presentation invites you to explore some of the themes of this module in relation to repertoire of your own choice. In the presentation you will deliver a summary of what you intend to explore in the main assignment. You will receive feedback on this, which you are expected to incorporate into the main submission, in January. The presentation must include the following: • Which of the main assignment options you are doing • Whether or not you attended the tutorial ahead of the assessment What you intend to cover in the assignment • What is the key question you are addressing in the assignment • An overview of your plan • Explain the process you have undertaken so far and how your ideas have developed • An overview of the scholarly literature central to your assignment topic • A close look at one of the central texts related to your work and how you intend to build on the ideas within it • An outline of any challenges you foresee between now and submission in January The presentation should last 20 minutes, including any music examples (performed live or from recordings). You are advised to prepare accompanying slides and/or a handout. However, music examples must not account for more than 10% (i.e. to a maximum of 2 minutes) of the presentation in total.
Weighting
40%
Due date
21/11/2024
Assessment method
Coursework
Assessment type
Summative
Description
Final submission: see module handbook for detailed description. To be submitted on the first day of the Semester 1 assessment period. A final submission, demonstrating an understanding of multiple modes of musical enquiry and practice. This may take one of the following formats: – an essay of around 4000 words; – a lecture-recital or illustrated talk of around 35 minutes’ duration; – an original composition of around 4 minutes’ duration, accompanied by a contextual commentary of 2000 words; – a recorded performance of around 10 minutes’ duration, accompanied by a contextual commentary of 2000 words. The work submitted for the final submission must be different from that submitted for other modules.
Weighting
60%
Due date
06/01/2025