MU1125: Elements of Tonal Music 1

School Cardiff School of Music
Department Code MUSIC
Module Code MU1125
External Subject Code 100070
Number of Credits 20
Level L4
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr Charles Wilson
Semester Autumn Semester
Academic Year 2015/6

Outline Description of Module

(Note that this module is core, i.e. compulsory, for BMus students. Any student taking MU1314 Practical Musicianship I must also take this module. Note also that this module is a prerequisite for MU1227 Elements of Tonal Music II, MU2114 Harmonic Practice, MU2224 Contrapuntal Practice, and analysis, practical, and editing modules in future years)

This module aims:

  • to familiarize students with standard harmonic and contrapuntal practices of the tonal common practice period (c1700-1830);
  • to enable students to relate theory to practice through analytical annotation of and prose commentary on specific analytical examples;
  • to foster a practical understanding of harmony and counterpoint through structured exercises and elementary pastiche composition;
  • to develop the ability to recognize and reproduce melodic and harmonic/contrapuntal examples through aural and keyboard skills. 

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  • understand the working principles of tonal syntax and harmonic progression within a major or a minor key, showing an awareness of relevant categories and theoretical distinctions;
  • demonstrate a practical understanding of figured bass and chorale harmonization;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the principles of two-part species counterpoint and their modification in free composition of the common-practice period;
  • transcribe simple musical extracts aurally from dictation;
  • give a fluent performance of a prepared short chorale extract on the piano, and undertake other keyboard exercises (with one week’s preparation).

How the module will be delivered

The module is delivered by means of ten weekly 50-minute lectures in addition to weekly 50-minute workshops/seminars, which generally follow within an hour of the lecture class. Lectures are used to present key theoretical concepts, often incorporating brief individual and group tasks, while workshops aim to reinforce and consolidate this knowledge and understanding through the practical exercise of analytical, written musicianship and general musicianship skills.  An additional ‘keyboard surgery’ is available to all students who wish to attend on one afternoon a week.

Students receive a module pack and spend additional time in private reading, listening and score study.

Skills that will be practised and developed

Discipline-specific skills

The ability to

  • harmonize a non-modulating chorale melody in the style of J.S. Bach;
  • realise diatonic harmonies and analyse them using standard analytical notation (e.g. Roman numerals);
  • articulate coherently the ways in which musical parameters interact in a complex musical texture (e.g. distinguishing ‘harmonic’ from 'non-harmonic' notes); 
  • demonstrate the ability to analyse appropriate examples and evaluate their application in given exercises.

Generic skills

The ability to

  • utilize confidently and independently analytical skill and interpretative judgment;
  • discuss and justify their findings with accuracy and clarity, whether orally or in writing;
  • demonstrate the ability to extract issues of practice from principle and principle from practice;
  • plan, evaluate and reflect critically on work in progress.

How the module will be assessed

Type of assessment

%Contribution

Title

Duration
(if applicable)

Approx. date of Assessment

Summative assessment

40

Portfolio of coursework exercises (eight exercises on continuous assessment basis) (learning outcomes 1–3)

 

Throughout Autumn semester

Summative assignment

10

In-session aural assessment (learning outcome 4)

 

Week 10 (Autumn)

Summative assignment

10

In-session keyboard assessment (learning outcomes 3 and 5)

 

Week 11 (Autumn)

 

40

Written examination  (learning outcomes 1 and 2)

2 hours

Autumn semester examination period (January)

The potential for reassessment in this module

Summative assessments can be retaken in the resit period subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Examination Board.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Practical-Based Assessment 10 Elements Of Tonal Music I - Practical-Based Assessment 2
Portfolio 40 Elements Of Tonal Music I - Portfolio N/A
Oral/Aural Assessment 10 Elements Of Tonal Music I - Oral/Aural Assessment N/A
Exam - Autumn Semester 40 Elements Of Tonal Music I 2

Syllabus content

The syllabus covers melody and harmony of the tonal common practice period across a range of music of the 18th and early 19th centuries: an introduction to scale-degree and functional harmonic theories; Roman numeral notation and figured bass; modified species counterpoint and basic categories of melodic dissonance and embellishment.  This knowledge is consolidated through a mixture of analytic and synthetic, notated and practical exercises.

Essential Reading and Resource List

Aldwell, Edward and Carl Schachter, Harmony and Voice-Leading, 4th edn (Boston: Thomson/Schirmer, 2011)

Bach, J.S., 371 Harmonized Chorales, ed. Albert Riemenschneider (New York: Schirmer, 1941/1980)

Boyd, Malcolm, Bach: Chorale Harmonization and Instrumental Counterpoint (London: Kahn and Averill, 1999)

Butterworth, Anna, Stylistic Harmony (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1994)

Clendinning, Jane Piper and Elizabeth West Marvin, The Musician’s Guide to Theory and Analysis (New York: Norton, 2005)

Salzer, Felix and Carl Schachter, Counterpoint in Composition: the Study of Voice Leading (New York: McGraw Hill/Columbia University Press, 1969; 2nd edn, 1989)

Background Reading and Resource List

None


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