Music 312: PE #2 (Fall 2015)

Music 312a – Portfolio Exercise #2:

Composing An Art Song Fragment (100 pts total):

Consult Jen & Adam’s ArtSongResidency_Handout AND:

  • Review Jen’s info on her voice.
  • Study recommended Art Song repertoire.
  • Review Adam’s piano writing instructions.
  • Pick a text in the public domain as advised or use Jen’s ArtSongFragment_Texts handout.
  • Compose an Art Song Fragment that is :45 seconds to 1 minute in length.

PE #2, Part A – Pre-Compositional Planning (40 pts.):
*** DUE Monday, 11/9 by 11:59 p.m. ***

Using the notation program of your choice, submit a complete, detailed compositional plan for your art song fragment as either a .sib or .xml file (no .pdf or handwritten submissions) in your Composition Seminar Drop Box for Dr. A.

Here’s what’s prescribed:

A. Notate the scansion of your ENTIRE text. Create rhythmic motives with your scansion choices, with at least three rhythmic note values, though you may certainly use many more. Use these rhythmic motives and derivations of them throughout your art song fragment.

  • 1. Use a moderate metronome marking of your choice – what’s best for your text?
  • 2. Use a mixed meter scheme of your own design – what’s best for your text?
  • 3. Lyrics should be notated below the singer’s notes, using the lyrics tool in your notation program.
  • 4. Vocal dynamics should be notated above the singer’s notes, NOT below.

B. Next, notate an overall harmonic reduction that outlines the harmonic structure that you will use in your art song fragment. This may conform to a verse/chorus setting, OR, a variety of other phrase structures that you design. The text must strongly influence your harmonic phrase structures.

  • 1.Your art song MUST be either G or A pitch-centric, so that it conforms to Jen’s voice range.
  • 2. Use a minimum of two different modes tetrachordally combined; i.e., the first four notes of one mode combined with the last four notes of another mode.  Examples include: phrygian-dorain; or lydian-mixolydian; other synthetic scales that you design; but NONE of the following – major key, minor key, atonal or serial pitch techniques.
  • 3. Modulate at least once to a third-related mode from your original G or A pitch center. Use the same modal scale combination, or switch to another modal scale combination. Return to your original pitch center if you wish.
  • 4. Harmonies: Use combinations of secundel, quartal/quintal, tertian chords with one or two additional pitch(es) to create different tetrachords or pentachords, as well as extended tertian harmonies.
  • 5. Optional: additional modal mixture; chromaticism; altered diminished or dominant harmonic treatments.

C. Next, notate at least 4 different cadences that you will use within the structural parts of your art song fragment. Where will you use them? How will you use them?

D. Finally, notate at least 3 different chord progressions that you will use within the structural parts of your art song fragment. Where will you use them? How will you use them?

E. Your pre-compositional design materials must be in the final version of your art song fragment.

PE #2, Part B – Art Song Fragment (60 pts.):
*** DUE Friday, 11/20 by 11:59 p.m. ***

Using the materials from your compositional planning, complete your art song fragment. It should be between :45 seconds and 1 minute in length.  Include an analytical essay (800 word count minimum) in which you detail the musical syntax & structures that you used in your art song fragment.

Submit your art song fragment as either a .sib or .xml file (no .pdf or handwritten submissions) in your Composition Seminar Drop Box for Dr. A, who once it is approved by her, will forward it to Jen and Adam.

Monday, 12/14, 2015: Rm. 106 @ 1:00 pm – Art Song Critique Workshop with Jen and Adam back in residence at Yale.  They will perform your Art Song Fragment as a part of their Workshop.

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