Instrumentation 1
K 214, section
8462 · 12:20-1:10, TR · MA 007
Justin Merritt,
instructor · office, MU335 · jwmerrit@indiana.edu
K214
is a required course for undergraduate composition majors.
While students not majoring in composition are also welcome, it is
beneficial to have some experience composing, as well as exposure to concert
music written in the last century.
Adler, Samuel. The Study of Orchestration. 3rd
ed. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002.
Available at IU Bookstore & TIS Bookstore
All recordings and scores are available in the music library. Scores can be picked up in the reserve room. Recordings are available either as CD’s in the reserve room or online through Variations. To listen to a Variations recording, you must use a School of Music PC in the music library. Go to the K214 Reserve Recording website and click on the link to that piece.
· Reserve
Scores: http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/reserves/k214mlo.html
· Reserve
Recordings: http://www.dlib.indiana.edu/variations/reserves/k214mlr.html
40 % Compositions Projects
40 % Quizzes & Final Exam
15 % Repertoire Projects & Journal
5 % Class
Participation
Composition
Projects:
For each unit, you will write a short (1-2 minute) solo or duo
composition. A visiting performer
will read these in class. Compositions
are due at the beginning of class. Late
assignments may be accepted for up to one day, but they will not receive a grade
of higher than 70%. Compositions
later than one day will not be accepted. These
assignments will be graded according to the following criteria:
· Idiomatic
Use of Instrument. The piece
should be playable on the instrument in question (nothing impossible or too
awkward), in the correct range, etc.
· Fulfills
Requirements. For each exercise
you will be asked to include specific techniques.
· Creativity.
These pieces should be interesting and creative, not simply and exercise.
Don’t be afraid to experiment a bit.
However, keep in mind that performers will be sight-reading and will have
limited time on each project during class.
· Notation.
All elements of the score (dynamics, phrase markings, articulations,
tempo, measure numbers, etc) should be neat and large enough to read easily.
Transpositions must be correct, stems and flags should be facing the
correct direction and so on. Pieces
may be written either by hand or using a computer notation program (such as
Finale or Sibelius), but in any case they must be neat, legible, and following
the proper rules of notation.
· Complete
Details. All elements of a
complete work must be present. Details
that should not be forgotten include: dynamics, tempo, articulations, title,
composer, copyright, and an explanation of any non-standard notation.
Quizzes
& Final Exam: There will be a quiz following each unit to test your knowledge of
instrumental ranges, techniques, terminology, and other information discussed in
class. Each quiz will cover only
material presented in that unit. The
final exam will be cumulative.
Repertoire
Projects:
Each unit will have a required listening list.
Repertoire projects will involve responses to questions involving the
works that unit. These assignments must be typed.
Rehearsal
& Performance Journal: There
is no substitute for observing & careful listen to actual instruments and
ensembles. Over the course of the
semester, you should attend 3 rehearsals and 3 concerts and make thorough
journal entries for each. Attend an
entire rehearsal or performance for one of the following
ensembles: orchestra, chamber orchestra, wind ensemble, or New Music Ensemble.
The rehearsal schedule for the various orchestras (usually late afternoon
times in MAC 036, MAC 040, or the MAC auditorium) is posted weekly in Clouse’s
Lounge and in the basement of the MAC by the large elevator.
If possible, take a score of the pieces so you can see how the composer
achieved orchestral effects. Include
in each journal entry:
· the name of the ensemble, conductor, & the pieces
performed or rehearsed
· date and time of the
rehearsal
· comments made by the
conductor, especially issues of dynamics, articulations, bowing,
and
tone color
· problems encountered in the rehearsal & how they
were addressed
· specific techniques that we have gone over in class
·
interesting or unique ways in which the composer used instruments
·
any other observations about the pieces or performances
Class
participation: Students are expected to attend class and participate in discussions
& performance reviews. Preparation
is requisite. Readings should be
completed by or before the day that they are listed in your syllabus.
Please
feel free to contact me by email if you have any questions.
Office hours are by request.
Tues
Sept 3
Introduction
Thurs
Sept 5 Preparing
Score & Parts
READ:
Chapter 1 & 18
Week
2
Tues
Sept 10
String Basics I
READ: Chapter 2
HAND IN: Score Preparation Project
Thurs
Sept 12 String Basics II
Week
3
Tues
Sept 17
Violin & Viola
READ: Chapter 3
Thurs
Sept 19 Cello & Bass
HAND IN: String Repertoire Project
Week
4
Tues
Sept 24
QUIZ: Strings
Thurs
Sept 26 HAND IN: String
Composition
String Performances I
Week
5
Tues
Oct 1 String
Performances II
Thurs
Oct 3 Woodwind
Basics I
READ: Chapter 6
Week
6
Tues
Oct 8
Woodwind Basics II
Flute
READ: Chapter 7
Thurs
Oct 10 Oboe &
Bassoon
Week
7
Tues
Oct 15
Clarinet & Saxophone
HAND IN: Woodwind Repertoire Project
Thurs
Oct 17 QUIZ:
Woodwind
Week
8
Tues
Oct 22
HAND IN: Woodwind Composition
Woodwind
Performances I
Thurs
Oct 24 Woodwind
Performances II
Week
9
Tues
Oct 29
Brass Basics I
READ: Chapter 9
Thurs
Oct 31 Brass Basics
II
Horn
READ: Chapter 10
Week
10
Tues
Nov 5 Trumpet
Thurs
Nov 7 Trombone
& Tuba
HAND IN: Brass Repertoire Project
Week
11
Tues
Nov 12 QUIZ: Brass
Thurs
Nov 14 HAND IN: Brass
Composition
Brass
Performances I
Week
12
Tues
Nov 19 Brass
Performances II
Thurs
Nov 21 Harp
READ: Chapter 4, pp. 89-101
Week
13
Tues
Nov 26 Piano &
Celesta
READ: Chapter 13
HAND
IN: Harp/Keyboard Repertoire Project
Thurs
Nov 28 Thanksgiving
Week
14
Tues
Dec 3 QUIZ:
Harp/Keyboard
Thurs
Dec 5 HAND
IN: Harp Composition
Harp
Performances I
Week
15
Tues
Dec 10 Harp
Performances II
Thurs
Dec 12 Finals review
Thurs
Dec 19 2:45-4:45pm
Final
This
syllabus is subject to change.