Exper­i­ment­al Elec­tron­ic Music

• Duration: One semester, autumn or spring.
• Final assessment: Assessment by the course instructor.
• Language of tuition: Norwegian and English.
• Prerequisite knowledge: Digital competence (DIG10) or other equivalent courses.

Course description

The course explores electro-acoustic and experimental electronic music in the ensemble format. We work with constructing instruments, collective experimentation with sound-producing tools, and creative performance with electronic musical instruments. This involves group improvisation, loudspeaker orchestras and the presentation of experimental or open-form compositions. The course will also provide basic theoretical knowledge of music technology and information about DIY sound-producing technology. The course is aimed at students who are curious about both alternative performance practices and the experimental use of sound and electronics in performance and creative contexts.

The course is open to both composers and performers in Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes.

Course Instructor: Anders Tveit.

Learning objectives

After completing the course the student is expected to

• be able to work in groups to compose and perform electroacoustic/electronic experimental music
  
• be familiar with basic concepts in music technology
  
• be familiar with key works within the field
  
• have a basic understanding of electroacoustic music and performance practice
  
• have practical knowledge of a variety of sound-producing electronic tools

Overview

The course is organised as a series of hands-on workshops and listening sessions/lectures focused on experimental electroacoustic music and performance practice. In addition to exploring and experimenting with sound as musical material, the students will learn how they themselves can create simple electro-mechanical synthesisers, contact microphones and “acoustic laptops”, set up a small loudspeaker orchestra, use feedback loops in a mixer as a musical instrument (no-input mixer), and use various hardware sound generators and samplers. These constitute the instruments and tools that are used in group improvisations and individual works composed in the group.

Key works such as John Cage’s Cartridge Music and David Tudor’s Rainforest will be performed.

Structure

The course comprises six workshops, each of 3,5 hours’ duration, and four listening sessions/lectures during a 12-week period.

Course requirements

Active participation in the course is required. More than 20 % absence from class will normally cause the student to fail the subject.

The students will participate in a concert and an internal performance during the period of study.

Final assessments

All coursework must be approved before the student can be given a final assessment. The student is assessed in relation to the learning objectives of the course. The final assessment will be a pass/fail grade and is determined by the subject teacher on the basis of an individual assessment of the student’s academic level through the work accomplished in the course.

Reassessment: Any reassessment is subject to the same procedure as an ordinary assessment.

Ved fullført emne er det forventet at studenten

• kan arbeide i gruppeprosesser med komponering og fremføring av elektroakustisk/ elektronisk eksperimentell musikk
• kan grunnleggende musikkteknologiske begreper
• kjenner til sentrale verk innen feltet.
• har grunnleggende forståelse av elektroakustisk musikk og fremføringspraksis.
• har praktisk kunnskap til ulike lydproduserende elektroniske verktøy.

Emnet er organisert som en serie med hands-on workshops og lyttesesjoner/forelesningstimer med et fokus rettet mot eksperimentell elektroakustiskmusikk og fremføringpraksis. I tillegg til det å utforske og eksperimentere med lyd som musikalsk materiale blir studentene kjent med å selv lage enkle elektromekaniske synthesizere, kontaktmikrofoner, ”akustisk laptop”, sette opp et mindre høyttalerorkester, bruke feedbackloops i en mikser som et musikalsk instrument (no-input mikser), ulike hardware lydgeneratorer og samplere. Dette utgjør instrumentene og lydverktøyene som brukes i gruppe improvisasjoner og egne verk komponert i gruppen.

Det vil også bli fremføringer av sentrale verk som John Cage: Cartridge Music og David Tudors Rainforest.

Undervisningen organiseres over seks workshops à 3,5 timer og fire lyttesesjoner/forelesninger over tolv uker.

Obligatorisk aktiv deltagelse i undervisningen. Dette innebærer normalt at fravær på mer enn 20 prosent medfører at studenten ikke består emnet.

Studentene skal delta på en konsert og en intern fremføring i løpet av emnet.

Alle arbeidskrav i emnet må være godkjent for at studenten skal få avsluttende vurdering. Studenten vurderes i forhold til emnets læringsmål. Avsluttende vurdering uttrykkes med bestått/ ikke bestått og fastsettes av faglærer på grunnlag av en individuell vurdering av studentens faglige nivå gjennom arbeidet med emnet.

Ny vurdering

For ny vurdering gjelder samme ordning som for ordinær vurdering.