Music Composition (M.Phil.)

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Started in the academic year 2012-13, the music department is offering a one-year M.Phil. in Music Composition to cater for the growing demand for graduate studies of international standing in the area. Apart from one-on-one mentorship in composition itself, students will take courses in among others, music composition, experimental music theatre and contemporary opera, film music aesthetics, advanced orchestration (using technology as an assistant), and composition for mixed media.  This proposed M.Phil. course is  providing a backbone of activity for the Music Composition Centre, part of Trinity’s new initiative in Creative Arts, Technology and Culture.

Course Content:   The course consists of:  6 compulsory taught modules spread across two semesters (60 ECTS).  Each compulsory module is worth 10 ECTS. The compulsory modules are  Contemporary Music Studies, Advanced Orchestration and Art of Recording, Mixed Media, Contemporary Opera/Experimental Music Theatre, Composition I and Composition, Analysis and Film Theory.

Dissertation Module (30 ECTS). The dissertation module consists of two components: (a) final portfolio of composition, and (b) an accompanying thesis of around 10,000  words. The final portfolio of compositions must have a performing duration of between 20-35 minutes. Portfolios with longer performance times will also be accepted, but these must be agreed in advance with the course director. Students will work on developing their portfolio and accompanying thesis in conjunction with an assigned supervisor. The accompanying thesis should deal with the structure, aesthetics and methods used by the candidate in the act of composition. The thesis should demonstrate a good knowledge of the context surrounding the candidate’s work, and in doing so should engage with history, criticism.

The School of Creative Arts is pleased to announce that we will be awarding one €5,000 bursary to the top ranked applicant to our MPhil in Film Studies: Theory, History, Practice or our MPhil in Theatre and Performance. Applicants will be ranked on the basis of previous academic qualifications, the quality of their supporting application, their letters of reference, and their potential for higher level research.

Existing applicants should indicate to the relevant MPhil co-ordinator whether they would like to be considered for this bursary.

All applications for these courses and these bursaries must be received by 30 June.

For further details, please contact the Director of Postgraduate Teaching and Learning, Dr Ruth Barton BARTONR@tcd.ie .