Composition, Arranging, and Sound Design 2 focuses on the skill of counterpoint and its use in the creation of musical texture.  This topic will be examined through a combination of analysis and independent supervised composition.  Students will develop a portfolio of short compositions in a variety of genres and styles using Logic Pro X software. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Compose original polyphonic and homophonic music which reflects the students individual musical interests and goals.
2. Compose and present polyphonic and homophonic works of a highly proficient standard using both correct notation and Logic Pro X software.
3. Describe relevant polyphonic and homophonic compositional issues in aesthetic and technical terms.
4. Communicate and articulate their creative decisions in the composition of polyphonic and homophonic compositions.

Field Trips

Week 6: Visit to the National Carillon, details provided on Wattle and in the week 5 lecture.

Recommended Resources

A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) with Sequencer and music scoring program (Finale / Sibelius)

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Assessment Rubrics

All scores and rendered works will be graded according to the following criteria:

(25) Technique: How playable and idiomatic are the pieces presented. Writing appropriately for the instrument (s) / ensemble, applying concepts outlines in lectures, following a definable method.

(25) Creativity: The ability of the piece to stand on its own, as a self-contained work.

(25) Notation and audio: Have the decisions on how to score this music been properly considered? Score quality, ease of reading, consistency and attention to detail, which will include   performance directions, dynamics, articulations. Do audio-visual renders or bounces sound appropriate          providing a good audio listening mock-up of the score and quality electroacoustic parts with good     recording technique in such works. Note that all pieces are to be presented on the audio-visual .mp4 format.

(25) Compositional voice: This criteria looks at the macro connections in your music, how well you have gone beyond the material of the lectures and found a living means to make music. A sense of experimentation, an openness to moving beyond the comfort zone. The sense of your emergent voice as a composer, the quality of connections between the music in your folio and your written exegesis.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Research & Creative Practice · Overview of what is to be covered · What is a Compositional Practice? · Conceptual & Visual Intelligence · Research & Writing Music 20th Century Genre Terms: Art Music, Jazz, Pop, Electronic, Contemporary
2	MELODY 1 Instrumental · Melodic fundamentals · Text, melody, harmony and meaning · Narrative / Non-narrative · Woodwind: Flute / Bassoon Russolo / Ravel / Armstrong
3	MELODY 2 Instruments · Drawing / Graphic scores · Harmonic Structuring · Woodwind: Clarinet / Oboe · Writing for Performance Le Six / Ellington
4	COUNTERPOINT 1 Voice · Species Counterpoint · Canon / Fugue / Dialogues · Lead/Accompanying & Voice Types · Tuned Percussion & Piano Gershwin / Porter / Marricone
5	COUNTERPOINT 2 Harmony & Line · Making Sense with two lines · Writing for Voices and Instruments · Brass: Trumpet / Saxophone / Voice · Scales / Modes / Harmony / Voicing · Developing a Portfolio Strayhorn/Ladysmith Black Mambazo
6	EXCURSION: The Carillion. As a class we will go to the National Carillion in Canberra. Dr Thomas Lau will deliver a workshop about the Carillon. From this you will write a 1-2 minute work for the instrument. Selected works will be added to the repertoire of the National Carillion and played by Thomas Laue in a future recital.
7	LISTENING writing and analysis · Writing for the Carillon · Deep Listening & Spirituality · Beat Stimulation: Binaural & Isochronic · Music Rhythm & the Human Body · Writing, Feeling, Hearing, Listening · Lockwood / Cage / Oliveros / Part
8	ELECTRO ACOUSTIC 1 · Sound Design / Found Objects · Orchestrating larger forces · More Harmony / Scales / Voicing · Designing Roles in Small Ensembles · Soundscapes & Music production · Stockhausen / Schafer / Davis / Dodge
9	ELECTRO ACOUSTIC 2 · Ideas / Planning / Arranging · Mapping Rhythmic Designs · Using / not using technology · More: Harmony / Scales / Voicing · Improvisation – Jazz & Other · Stockhausen / Schafer / Davis / Evans
10	TEXTURE – LINE – SOUND DESIGN 1 · Programming & Sound Design · Extended Writing Techniques · Music Theatre - a Brief Overview (ASB) Adams / Sondheim / J R Brown / Hancock
11	TEXTURE – LINE – SOUND DESIGN 1 · Programming & Sound Design · Extended Writing Techniques · Music Theatre - a Brief Overview (ASB) Adams / Sondheim / J R Brown / Hancock
12	REVISION · Revisiting key concepts discussed in lectures

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Task 1	10 %	13/08/2021	27/08/2021	1,2,3
Task 2	10 %	27/08/2021	10/09/2021	1,2,3
Task 3	10 %	24/09/2021	08/10/2021	1,2,3,4
Task 4	10 %	08/10/2021	22/10/2021	1,2,3,4
Task 5 - Folio	40 %	12/11/2021	*	1,2,3,
Task 6 - Exegisis	20 %	12/11/2021	*	3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Collaboration between students with the use of smart phones and manuscript in tutorials and workshops

Examination(s)

n/a

Assessment Task 1

Task 1

Compose a twenty-four bar, single line melody: Write a single line / solo performance piece, to be performed by yourself or a fellow class member. The piece should be structured to demonstrate the following:

1)             An antecedent and consequence (A & C)

2)             A developmental section devised from (A & C)

3)             A developed restatement of the A & C

Your work should be annotated to mark each of the above component’s location on your score.

 

Duration: Minimum twenty-four bars – presented as a written score and video performance recording

 

Submission requirements:

A zipped folder uploaded to Wattle which includes the following:

o  Hand written score with title page (PDF, jpg image or other as appropriate)

o  An .MP4 or .WMV (video / audio-visual presentation) file of the work

Due date: 13 August 2021

Estimated return date: Within two weeks of submission

Assessment Task 2

Task 2

Compose a thirty-two bar, duet:

 

Write a two-line / duo performance piece, to be performed by yourself with a fellow class member OR by two students enrolled in music at ANU. The piece should be structured to demonstrate the following:

1)     That the piece is devised from a concept or idea that shapes the intention of the work

2)     A solid understanding of the process of interactive and cooperative sonic exchange

3)     The use of a contrapuntal approach that includes: a solid harmonic or textural underpinning of the work, imitation (canon or fugue), independent rhythms and melodic contours,

 

Duration: Minimum 1min maximum 1’30’ mins – presented as a hand-written score and video recording

 

Submission requirements:

A zipped folder uploaded to Wattle which includes the following:

o  Hand written score with title page (PDF, jpg image or other as appropriate)

o  An .MP4 or .WMV (video / audio-visual presentation) file of the work

Due date: 27 August 2021

Estimated return date: Within two weeks of submission

Assessment Task 3

Task 3

Write a short work for the Carillion (1’00”- 1’30”), responding to the techniques from the lecture / workshop about the instrument. Feedback to be given by both Laue and Millward.

 

The piece should be structured to demonstrate the following:

1) Writing effectively to take advantage of the incredible sustain of the Carillon’s 57 bells

2) Effective use of the extremely dynamic range possible, from ppp to fff

3) Effective use of the instrument’s range, in constructing melodies and/or harmonic textures

4) Taking full advantage of the minor-third harmonic or partial of each bell.

Duration: Minimum 1 min maximum 1’30’ mins – presented as a typeset-score (Finale or Sibelius)

 

Submission requirements:

A zipped folder uploaded to Wattle which includes the following:

o  A typeset score with title page (PDF)

o  A Wav (audio MIDI realization) of the work

 

Due date: 8 October 2021

Estimated return date: Within two weeks of submission

Assessment Task 4

Task 4

Compose a thirty-two bar, four-line piece, for instruments and / or voices

 

The piece should be electro-acoustic in design, at least one of the parts to be the recording of a live instrument performance. The piece should be structured to demonstrate the following:

1)   That the piece is devised from a concept or idea that shapes the intention of the work

2)   A solid understanding of the process of interactive and cooperative sonic exchange and or accompaniment

3)   The use of a contrapuntal approach that includes: a solid harmonic or textural underpinning of the work, imitation, independent rhythms and melodic contours

 

Duration: Minimum 1min maximum 1’30’ mins – presented as a score with video recording

 

Submission requirements:

 

A zipped folder uploaded to Wattle which includes the following:

o  Typeset score (Finale or Sibelius) with title page (PDF format)

o  An .MP4 or .WMV (video / audio-visual presentation) file of the work

Due date: 27 August 2021

Estimated return date: Within two weeks of submission

Assessment Task 5

Task 5 - Folio

Folio of Compositions

 

The folio should be at least twelve minutes in duration and no longer than fifteen minutes. The makeup of the submission must include at least the following:

1-   A piece for solo instrument / voice using extended writing techniques 4-5 mins)

2-   A work for two analogue instruments and Piano (4-5 mins)

3-   An electro acoustic piece for six analogue instruments with an independent electronic component (4-5 Mins)

 

*NOTE:

At least one of these three pieces must be a recording of a live performance presented as a video recording. Marks will be scaled to reward students who attempt recording and producing piece three. All folio works must be planned and cleared with the lecturer.  Plans of Composition Folio works-in-progress must be presented as written documentation for discussion in the tutorial on the 15 October and subsequently up loaded on Wattle no later than midnight 15 October. 

 

A zipped folder uploaded to Wattle which includes the following:

o  Score or each of the works all with title pages (PDF format)

o  .Wav audio files of each of the works (Electro acoustic work to be presented as an Mp4 video file)

Due date:  Finished Folio due 12 November

Estimated return date: With all final marks for the year when released

Assessment Task 6

Task 6 - Exegisis

The exegesis for the composition folio will be assessed as follows:

 

1. FINAL – 1000 word analysis/summary of your compositional aims. This document should include a discussion of the following:

 

a.    Compositional techniques and intent

b.    Aims of the composer in making the works

c.    Points of similarity and difference to established repertoire Context within the repertoire (extant pieces similar to your own, and the manners in which

your work is similar or different)

d.    Scoring and presentation

e.    An honest assessment of your growing compositional voice.

 

A quick note on musical quotations and self-quotations within our composition courses:

Due to a “grey area” existing between University academic policy and compositional practice this is now clarified. For the purposes of this course you are not allowed to directly quote or take music from an existing piece of another composer, or your own. However, this does not relate to tutorial tasks whereby you are writing new music in response to existing chord progressions or compositional schemes / methods. If you do wish to quote yourself, it should be with significant modification and be addressed clearly within your exegesis.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students