NARRATIVE COMPOSITION

Course Description

We will be analyzing pieces of music that are mainly from different visual entertainment media (videogames, animation, film, and other forms of mixed media), abstracted away from the visual context they were written in, and focusing on purely the musical techniques that convey a variety of intentional emotional information to the listener. Each class will have its corresponding lesson topic, which I will discuss and explore, and play examples of music that relate to these topics. Class time will thus be spent listening and discussing the music that corresponds to each lesson topic, and analyzing what exactly makes these pieces effective at evoking reactions within the listener (as best to our abilities). This course will focus on exploring and discussing the techniques of harmony, melody, and form, that are used in Western (and Western-influenced) music to effectively induce potent, real emotion and feeling within the listener.

Please email me if you have any questions! This course is intended to be taught to those with at least some background in music production, performance, or theory. If you would like an add code, or are interested in the class, please let me know! This is a student-led colloquium led by Adam Schmieder, under the supervision of Andrew Watts.

Email: adamschmieder@ucsb.edu