Exten­ded Com­pos­i­tion

Year of study: concentrated to the projects weeks 40, 45 and 49
Final assessment: Assessment by the course instructor.
Language of tuition: Norwegian and English.

Course description

The course is focusing on musical composition with an expanded material, as well as an introduction to artistic practices and theoretical reflections working with an expanded compositional material. The course will involve composing with organized sound but also encompass movement, language, and material from "reality" in the form of objects, video, or audio files.

The course will provide practical and theoretical introduction on how to work compositionally with an expanded compositional material, such as movement, language, and "reality material" in the form of using video, audio files, or objects. Compositional tasks will be given where participants in the course will be both composers and performers of the compositions in the group. There will also be lectures and demonstrations of various composers', musicians', and sound artists' work and thinking. Students will primarily work practically with their own compositional projects collaboratively. Guidance will be provided at all levels of the process. In addition, students will receive theoretical tasks to be presented in plenum, as a basis for collective reflection and discussion on how and what can be material for composition.

Course coordinator: Composition, Music Theory and Music Technology Department

Learning objectives

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to

• be able to work process-basedly on compositions and performances of extended musical works in groups
• Have practical knowledge of composition that also includes movement, language, video, or objects
  
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of key works and trends within the expanded compositional field
  
• Document a reflective approach to composing in an expanded compositional field

Overview

In recent years, there has been an expansion of what composers and musicians understand as musical material. This expansion is similar to similar expansions in other art fields such as theater, visual arts, and dance. Some of the most well-known examples stem from practices that emerged within the visual arts field in the early 20th century. Visual art has long explored the premises and boundaries of what constitutes art, drawing inspiration from dance, theater, music, and other forms of expression. Similarly expanded practices have emerged in other fields, and within music, we have concepts such as music theater, instrumental theater, music installation, musical performance, and others.

The course consists of both a theoretical and practical part. Relevant topics include:

• Overview of important directions and ideas within new trends in contemporary music, modern theater, modern dance, and visual arts.
• the working process with a piece
• Forms of collaboration between different artistic disciplines
• Understanding the use of space and movement in one's own compositional work
• the relationship between text and music
• the relationship between movement and music
• the relationship between video and music

Structure

The course is taught in the fall semester and is primarily concentrated in project weeks 40, 45, and 49. Students receive theoretical introductions, practical exercises with text, space, and movement, as well as assistance in developing extended compositions. Individual guidance will be provided at all stages of the students' work during the course.

Course requirements

1. Participation in the scheduled lessons is compulsory. Absence of more than 20% will normally lead to failure of the course.
2. The student shall create their own compositions and participate in the performance of their own and others compositions.
3. The course includes a written reflection paper at the end of the course, approximately 1000 words (equivalent to 2-3 pages). Relevant topics: expectations for the course, personal background and learning process, and applications for what the student has learned.

Final assessment

1. All requirements in the course must be approved for the student to receive final assessment.
2. The student shall submit an exam portfolio containing recordings of the works composed in the course as well as a reflection paper.

Deadline: The exam portfolio is submitted on Canvas by May 15th

New assessment

Students failing the course will have to apply to re-follow the course for a new assessment. Students may only re-follow the course if there are available places.