Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Music School
Study of the compositional techniques of Renaissance and Baroque polyphony with associated analytical and writing exercises in vocal and instrumental contrapuntal styles. Please note that this course offering may be cancelled if fewer than 10 students enrol.
Introduction to modal and tonal counterpoint through written application of contrapuntal principles, study of representative repertoire ﾠexamples, and investigation of research on fugal techniques and analytical approaches.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Undergraduate musicianship courses utilising tonal harmony. No prior experience with modal composition is required.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
MUSC3600
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Josephine Jin
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
Introduction toﾠthe techniques of Renaissance and Baroque counterpoint through repertoire analysis and written exercises.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate fluency in modal counterpoint through exercises and pastiche composition in two, three, or four parts.
LO2.
Demonstrate fluency in tonal counterpoint through written exercises and pastiche composition for two or three parts.
LO3.
Demonstrate aural awareness of contrapuntal processes in Renaissance and Baroque instrumental and vocal genres.
LO4.
Demonstrate understanding of Renaissance and Baroque compositional processes through analyses of representative examples from repertoire.
LO5.
Demonstrate awareness of scholarly literature relevant to written exegesis on historically-informed composition.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio, Tutorial/ Problem Set | Portfolio - Three Assignments | 50% |
9/08/2024 - 6/09/2024
Assignments are due at 2.00 pm on the following dates: Assignment 1: 9 August 2:00 pm (Weighted: 20%) Assignment 2: 30 August 2:00 pm (Weighted: 20%) Assignment 3: 6 September 2:00 pm (Weighted: 10%) |
| Creative Production/ Exhibition, Tutorial/ Problem Set | Composition - Two-part Invention | 10% |
20/09/2024 2:00 pm |
| Creative Production/ Exhibition, Essay/ Critique | Three-part Fugue: Exegesis and Composition | 40% |
5/11/2024 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Portfolio - Three Assignments
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Portfolio, Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
9/08/2024 - 6/09/2024
Assignments are due at 2.00 pm on the following dates:
Assignment 1: 9 August 2:00 pm (Weighted: 20%)
Assignment 2: 30 August 2:00 pm (Weighted: 20%)
Assignment 3: 6 September 2:00 pm (Weighted: 10%)
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Completion of three assignments during the first half of the course. Altogether, the assignments are worth 50% of the final grade. Assignment sheets will be discussed in class and made available on Blackboard.
The assignments within this assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Criteria and Marking
Each assignment will be assessed according to the following criteria. Each individual question will receive qualitative, formative commentary only.
Criteria:
1. Overall fluency: competency in basic principles of modal or tonal counterpoint, including part-writing, cadences, dissonance treatment, motivic application and melodic design in contrapuntal textures.
2: Topic specific knowledge and application: Ability to understand, analyse, and use specific modal or tonal elements introduced in classwork preparatory to the assignment (0–10 marks).
Submission guidelines
Full instructions about submission of completed assignments through Blackboard will be provided at the beginning of semester.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Composition - Two-part Invention
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Creative Production/ Exhibition, Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 10%
- Due date
20/09/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Completion of a two-part Invention in 18th-century style that incorporates the resources presented and discussed in class.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
The Invention is marked according to the following criteria:
- Overall Fluency: Competence in music writing with regard to general principles of Baroque two-part composition, including part-writing, tonality & modulation, structural planning;
- Topic-specific Knowledge and Application: Ability to understand, analyse, use and incorporate specific elements of Baroque two-part Inventions introduced in the context of classwork preparatory to the assignment.
The grade achieved will constitute an overall assessment of the submission and individual areas will not carry specific values.
Submission guidelines
Full instructions about submitting assessments through Blackboard will be provided at the beginning of semester.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Three-part Fugue: Exegesis and Composition
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Creative Production/ Exhibition, Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
5/11/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
Composition of a complete three-part fugue in 18th-century style utilising fugal resources presented in class. An accompanying written exegesis of no more than 1,500 words will provide a critical appraisal of research literature on fugal process and how the results of this appraisal inform the student's approach to their composition of a fugue in eighteenth-century style. A task & information sheet and full instructions about submitting assessments will be provided at the beginning of semester.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Criteria and Marking:
The Project is assessed according to the following criteria:
- Demonstrates competence in all previously covered specific elements and general principles of counterpoint.
- Ability to incorporate the specific elements of Baroque three-part fugue comprising real or tonal answers, episodes, middle entries and special devices such as stretto or augmentation.
- Evidence of engagement with scholarly literature on fugal practice and historically-informed composition and analysis, and an ability to synthesise key points in relevant literature.
- Ability to provide a clear and logical analysis of the submitted fugal composition that reflects awareness of scholarship on eighteenth-century fugal practice.
- Ability to structure the accompanying written exegesis with logical sequencing of ideas, clarity of written expression, and accuracy of grammar and syntax.
- Good scholarly practice as evidenced by accuracy and relevance of citations and references.
The grade received will constitute an overall assessment of the Project and individual areas will not carry specific values.
Submission guidelines
Full instructions about submitting assessments through Blackboard will be provided at the beginning of semester.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 1 - |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Usually reserved for where grossly deficient work has been presented. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Severely deficient grasp of learning materials as demonstrated by frequent errors and misunderstandings in submitted work. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Submitted work demonstrates grasp of many features of course content but with frequent misunderstandings and some serious errors in contrapuntal idioms present. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Submitted work demonstrates a basic level of competence across all areas of assessable course content with occasional errors of understanding and limited use of contrapuntal idioms. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Submitted work demonstrates proficiency of understanding and achievement across all areas of the course with mostly minor errors of part writing and limited understanding of idioms across different contrapuntal genres. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Submitted work demonstrates clear understanding of all course content with few and mostly minor errors of part writing and stylistic requirements across contrapuntal idioms and genres. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Submitted work demonstrates mastery of all course content with imaginative responses to requirements of all contrapuntal idioms and genres. |
Additional course grading information
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Students should bring music (manuscript) paper, pencils and erasers to all classes. Access to ﾠa piano ﾠor electronic keyboard (minimum five octaves) is recommended during and after class.
Recommended readings are available online through the Library:ﾠhttps://uq.rl.talis.com/courses/musc7470.html
Lecture notes and other course materials will be posted weekly on the Blackboard site for this course. Recordings of all classes will be made available online ﾠon Blackboard.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 5 |
Lecture |
Modal Counterpoint
Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05 |
Multiple weeks From Week 6 To Week 9 |
Lecture |
Tonal Counterpoint - Introduction
Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Multiple weeks From Week 10 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Baroque Counterpoint - Fugue
Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Additional learning activity information
Class delivery will take place in two ways: a one-hour pre-recorded (asynchronous) lecture made available before the start of each teaching week; and a two-hour in-person workshop in each teaching week.
The online lecture will introduce contrapuntal processes and terminology, listening examples, analysis of repertoire, and demonstrations of sample exercises. The online lecture will also introduce key topics in research on counterpoint, including analytical approaches and historically-informed composition.
Each in-person class will involve material presented in various formats, including a mixture of class discussion, demonstrations, group and individual work. The course centres around student completion of exercises and short compositions in different contrapuntal idioms of the Renaissance and Baroques periods. These activities are enhanced through dedicated readings and research on contrapuntal analysis and historically-informed composition, using recent scholarship on fugue as the primary focus. Regular attendance at lectures is essential and students' performances of their work (even in draft stages) is welcome.
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course:
- School of Music site