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.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -(C– to C+): 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+) 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*) 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.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of this module, students will be able to develop informed ideas about music, built constructively on the ideas of others.

• On completion of this module, students will be able to express advanced ideas about music, and argue from their position.

• On completion of this module, students will be able to identify and profit from links between musicological enquiry and the practices of composition and performance.