PFA313 Introduction to Western Music Composition

[1–2, 3 cr.]

Through a progressive series of composition projects, students investigate the sonic organization of musical works and performances, focusing on fundamental questions of unity and variety. Weekly listening, reading, and composition assignments draw on a broad range of musical styles and intellectual traditions, from various cultures and historical periods. This course develops specific compositional techniques and structural procedures modelling a wide range of music genres within the Western Music/Commercial/Jazz idiom. Compositions for modelling will be chosen from a wide variety of composers.