Music Composition
Music composition at the School of Music - Conservatorium is offered as a major stream within the Bachelor of Music and at Honours , Masters and PhD levels. The undergraduate program focuses on developing highly talented and committed students and is designed to give a strong foundation in composition in a number of areas including compositional technique, analysis and theory, repertoire study, as well as electronic and computer technology. Outstanding students are invited to complete an Honours program that focuses on advanced techniques and technology applications. At the postgraduate levels, composition candidates create a research-based folio of original work and prepare a critical commentary that serves to contextualise their compositional investigation.
A Creative Community
A vibrant and creative composing community has evolved in the School that includes composers working in many areas of music. This highlights our approach that allows for expression and exploration in a wide range of musical styles and genres. Staff and students in the composition program are involved in many projects, and present their work in the wider community. Types of works created and performed in the School include:
- notated compositions for solo instruments, chamber groups and large ensembles,
- electronic works for spatialised sound,
- computer-generated compositions (including the creation of software with Max/MSP and Pd),
- music for film, dance and drama productions,
- improvisation-based works,
- sound installations,
- works that combine the above.
Activities of composition students include the collaboration with performance ensembles and individual performers within the School. The School aims at the integration of composition, music studies and performance, and encourages a high level of creative interaction among students and staff.
Composition Staff and Research
Composition staff comprises two permanent members: Dr Thomas Reiner (Co-ordinator of Composition) and Peter Mcilwain. In addition there are visiting lecturers as well as tutors drawn from the pool of past and present postgraduate students. Dr Reiner's areas of specialisation are contemporary concert music, popular electronic music, music semiotics, and the study of musical time. Peter Mcilwain's areas of expertise are electro-acoustic and computer music (including software design), compositional technique in sound spatialisation, and composition pedagogy. He also writes works for acoustic instruments including orchestral compositions.
The School's increasing activity in research-based composition has seen both staff and students contributing papers and articles to a number of conferences and refereed journals. Research is frequently carried out in collaboration with centres, organisations and institutions from outside the School; these include the Melbourne Composers' League (MCL), the Centre for Electronic Media Art (CEMA), Interactive Information Institute (I-Cubed) at RMIT, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), and The School of Music in Pitea (Sweden), and the Monash Centre in Prato (Italy).
A detailed discussion of composition as research can be found in the recent article "The Research Status of Music Composition in Australia."
Recent and current research projects in composition include:
"A study of the interface of electronic, physiological
and expressive performance timing in contemporary music." Thomas
Reiner
"An exploration of the integration and development
of derived materials in contemporary composition." Nissim Ben-Salamon
"Composition or instrument design: An investigation of
the relationship between low and high level structure in interactive
computer music." Steve Adam
"Computer-aided
music composition and performance." Thomas Reiner
"Furthering
indeterminacy in music composition." Russell Goodwin
"Harmonic
structures and directed motion in contemporary composition."
Peter Myers
"Music composition as an expression of
research in feminist theory." Melita White
"Space
as a structural force in electro-acoustic and interactive computer
music composition." Robin Fox
"Strategies for
the conceptual and aesthetic integration of team-based music composition,
contemporary music performance practice, and music technology."
Steve Adam, Philip Czaplowski, Robin Fox, Russell Goodwin, Karen
Heath, Peter Handsworth, Peter Myers, Thomas Reiner, Paul Todd
"Structural functions of electronic music: a collaborative
recording project." Steve Adam and Thomas Reiner
"Text
and context in contemporary music." Jane Hammond
"The
application of physical interfaces for digital signal processing
to music theatre performance." Peter Mcilwain
"The
exploration of contemporary practices in notation, improvisation,
live electronic performance and music for film." Anthony Pateras
"The investigation and development of compositional techniques
for the spatial and temporal distribution of sound in electro-acoustic
music." Peter Mcilwain and Thomas Reiner
"The
juxtaposition of musical styles as a compositional approach."
Philip Czaplowski
Facilities
The School provides and number of facilities that are available to composition students:
- a recording studio with computer-based hard disk recording (Mac G4),
- an electronic music lab with 4 channel monitoring and computer facilities (Mac G4),
- a computer lab with 10 workstations (iMacs) with Internet access.
Software supplied in these facilities include:
- Max/MSP,
- Pd,
- Sibelius,
- Digital Performer,
- Protools
- Metasynth.
Contact
If you are interested in applying
for the Undergraduate Composition program please email Peter Mcilwain
at:
Peter.Mcilwain@arts.monash.edu.au
Or
by phone 03 99051330
Application Procedure - Postgraduate
If you are interested in applying
for the Postgraduate Composition program please email Thomas Reiner
at:
Thomas.Reiner@arts.monash.edu.au
Or by phone 03 99053228
Application Procedure - Undergraduate for 2009
If you wish to apply for composition you will need to pass an audition. This involves submitting a folio of 3 compositions, a CV and a short covering letter explaining why you wish to do composition. Selectors will then contact you to organise an interview.
Below are the steps you need to take to apply:
Step 1: Consult University Information see:
http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/future/
Step 2: Download the Composition Audition Form
Complete form and mail it to the School (see instructions on the form) by Sept 30, 2008. Please note that if you are applying for more than one audition you must submit a separate form.
Step 3: Compile your additional application information - due Nov 10 - 2008
Your application should include the following:
- 3 compositions (notated scores with recordings if possible and examples of non-notated works such as computer based music)
- a Curriculum Vitae with details of relevant composing and musical experience
- a short covering letter explaing why you wish to do composition.
For advice on putting together your application
email Peter Mcilwain at:
Peter.Mcilwain@arts.monash.edu.au
Or by phone 03 99051330
You will need to post your application by Nov 10, 2007 to:
Peter
Mcilwain
School of Music - Conservatorium
Monash University
Victoria 3800
Australia
Step 4: Interviews - Nov, 2008
You will be invited for a short interview. This will be an opportunity for the composition staff to meet you and ask a few questions and for you to ask any questions that you might have.
After the above process is completed successful applicants will be notified.