Yearly Archives: 2011

Form/Analysis

(form) Assignment 2: Structural Units

September 7, 2011 – 9:38 pm

Due Monday, September 12

Using the criteria outlined in Chapter 2 of A Practical Approach to Form in Music, analyze the following works to identify structural phenomena (like Chapter 1), phrase structure and section structure (structural units). You should turn in a text paper, using an outline or bullet format to identify clearly by measure and event, and you should describe why you are grouping or not grouping phrases into any hierarchy.

Structural Units should address, where applicable, phrase structure, modulation, symmetry, and content (motive, i.e., parallel or contrasting, etc.). See p. 48, no. 3 for a model.

You should use structural phenomena to support your division of the pieces into sections, and then further dividing sections into phrase units.

Works:

Chopin, Mazurka in a minor, Op. 67, No. 4

J. S. Bach, English Suite No. IV, Sarabande, BWV 809 (first movement of embedded video)

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laptop ensemble

(laptop) fall 2011 syllabus

August 26, 2011 – 11:32 am

MMP 440: Advanced Topics in Computer Music

Laptop Ensemble

Meets MWF 12:00 – 12:50, Studio 9 (Media Lab)

Instructor: Keith Kothman (MU 109B, or MU 207)

Course Site: http://teachingmusic.keithkothman.com (category = laptop ensemble)

Course Description and Objectives

Laptop Ensemble will focus on performing experimental music written for computers, composing music for computer performance, and developing new technologies for computer performance. Background work will focus on a survey of current performance, compositional, and technological practices in laptop ensemble performance. Of particular interest will be issues relating to collaborative composition and improvisation, aesthetics of laptop ensembles, and networking systems for sharing of compositional and performance information during performance. The manner in which participants contribute to the ensemble will vary, but will comprise of at least one of the following areas: composition, performance, instrument and sound design, computer programming for interactive performance, human-computer interface design, networking for collaborative performance, speaker design and live-sound configuration for performance, and/or explanatory notes and documentation of ensemble activity.

The ensemble will perform publicly during the semester. Dates and times will be announced. Attendance at these events will be required. We should be traditional and non-traditional venues.

Tools

We will mainly focus on Macintosh computer systems, Max/MSP/Jitter, and Chuck. Other synthesis and programming tools are possibilities depending on user experiences, including commercial virtual synthesis systems, external MIDI controllers, pure-data, SuperCollider, and Processing.

Reference Ensembles and Artists

A growing collection of ensembles practice laptop performance. We will be examining a number of these during the course of the semester. They include:

We will also pay attention to experimental commercial electronica and idm. The following list is certainly not exhaustive, and reflects my interest. We will add to this over the course of the semester.

  • Matmos
  • Merzbow
  • Bjork
  • Aphex Twin
  • Autechre
  • DJ Spooky

Class Schedule and Concerts

Information forthcoming.

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Form/Analysis Uncategorized

(form) Assignment 1: Structural Phenomena

August 25, 2011 – 12:46 pm

Due: Monday, Aug. 29

(download assignment 1 with scores as pdf, from iLocker)

Using the criteria outlined in Chapter 1 of A Practical Approach to From in Music, analyze the following works to identify structural phenomena. You should turn in a text paper, using an outline or bullet format to identify as many structural phenomena in each work.

(recordings for all works are available on Naxos, but YouTube videos are embedded below for quicker access)

  • Mozart, Eine kleine Nachtmusic, K. 525, Mov’t III
  • Schubert , Six Moments Musical, Op. 94, No. 6
  • Schumann, Carnaval, Op. 9, No. 4, “Valse Noble”

Mozart

Schubert

Schumann

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assignments_musth2 musicTheory2

(musth112) Phrase Diagram (Bubble) Assignment

May 16, 2011 – 4:00 pm

Due Tuesday, 5/17:

Create a phrase diagram (bubble diagram) of the first 32 measures of Beethoven’s Op. 119, No. 1 Bagatelle (handout in class). Treat the first 16 measures as one diagram (in g minor), and the second 16 measures as a separate diagram (in Eb major).

Your diagram should show:

  • phrase markings with beginning and ending measure numbers (pickups count as belonging to the next measure)
  • cadences
  • melodic/thematic indications (a, a’, b, etc.)
  • sentence structure with internal parts labeled (bi, bi’, ci), if applicable
  • phrase groupings, such as periods and a designation of contrasting or parallel, if applicable.

You can mark phrases, cadences, etc., on the score, but then you will need to put the diagrams on the back of the page. The idea of the diagram is to give a quick overview of the phrase organization of the excerpt.

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(musth212) Final Exam Review Session, 2011

April 30, 2011 – 5:28 pm

A review session for the final exam, open to all sections, will be Sunday, May 1, at 7:30. Room Mu 309.

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(musth212) Final Exam Review, 2011

April 30, 2011 – 5:27 pm

As promised, here’s an outline of what could be on the final exam, with links to posts where appropriate and available.

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(musth212) Minimalism

April 30, 2011 – 5:06 pm

Outlined in a post from a previous class.

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(musth212) Chance Music

April 30, 2011 – 5:04 pm

I have a post from a previous class on chance music, also known as intedeterminancy, aleatoric music, or improvisation.

Read it here.

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(musth212) Another take on Semi-Simple Variations

April 20, 2011 – 1:11 pm

I mentioned in class that Milton Babbitt was very interested in jazz, and that I think his piano music has a certain jazz feel. Here is a trio called The Bad Plus performing the Semi-Simple Variations in true jazz style, with dancers from the Mark Morris Dance Company.

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(musth212) Babbitt Semi-Simple Variations Homework

April 20, 2011 – 1:06 pm

For Friday, April 22nd:

Complete the BabbittSemiSimple handout. It can be useful to refer to my posted lecture notes.

I won’t be accepting late homework and red-do’s on this assignment, as I’ll be discussing it in class on Friday.

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