MUSIC 2440 - Shaping Sound: An Introduction to Musical Composition and Experimentation in Sound

(CA-AS)

Fall. 3 credits.

M. Papalexandri-Alexandri.

This course serves as an introduction to musical composition and experimentation in sound. Our main focus will be on the use of everyday sounds and materials in the context of musical composition. We will investigate the process of creating new work from the gathering of materials to extended forms of musical notation. We will experiment with creating, manipulating and transforming sounds using notations and guided improvisations to create forms of interacting, listening, musical textures, and structures. We will also explore notions of time, approaches to musical notation, and the symbolic representation of sound. As part of this course, we will study influential compositions and artworks from the 20th century to the present day, as starting points for discussions on form, concept, and compositional method.