FAVORITE THINGS

Course Description

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but this course will go one step further. FIRST, students will analyze and present their favorite works, whether acoustic or electronic; tonal or atonal or serial; chamber or orchestral or vocal. THEN students will write music of their own, based on a single, well-defined element from the works they admire. The goal here is not to write “in the style of” but to use the works analyzed as a source of inspiration and/or a means of exploring new technique(s).

Students will write all music for the same 3-5 member ensemble, to be collaboratively determined at the beginning of the quarter, with the goal of having a completed multi-movement work for chamber ensemble at the end of the quarter.