Music - BA (Hons)

Durham University

Be inspired in a beautiful location to develop your creative, practical and critical skills in a top-class department. This degree will challenge you to think about music in new ways. BA Music combines the traditional and the modern in the study of music, exploring diverse genres from the past and present and developing exciting new approaches in musicology, composition (acoustic and electroacoustic), analysis, ethnomusicology, music and science, and performance. The department is located at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Durham City – an extraordinarily beautiful place. But it is the juxtaposition of ancient and cutting-edge that makes Durham so unusual and inspiring within the old buildings we strive to forge fresh interpretations and create exciting new music, using state-of-the-art technology. Our teaching is research-led and enhanced by distinctive staff specialisations that include nineteenth- and twentieth-century British music, Indian and Korean music, popular music, music technology, conducting, music psychology, opera, analysis, and contemporary composition. We also have a variety of music-making taking place at Durham such as six orchestras, choral singing, theatrical productions, contemporary music and much more. You can apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four. The first year of the course is designed to introduce a broad range of disciplines and approaches. In the second year, there is a much greater choice of modules to allow you to pursue your own interests. The final year of this course is structured around an independent project, which can take the form of a musicological dissertation, a composition portfolio, a techniques portfolio (pastiche compositions) or a 40-minute solo recital.Course structureYear 1 modulesCore modules:Historical Studies 1 introduces the historical study of the Western art music tradition, covering music from the baroque to late classical periods. A number of representative musical works from the period are explored and you will deepen your knowledge of those works and the contexts of their composition and reception, while also acquiring skills foundational to the practice of historical musicology.Optional modules:In recent years, optional modules have included: Historical Composition TechniquesComposition 1: Twentieth Century InnovationsIntroduction to EthnomusicologyAnalysis 1: Elements of Tonal Theory and PracticePerformance 1: Practice through History (with recital/essay). Year 2 modulesCore modules:Historical Studies 2 encourages a research-based approach to key issues in Western music between the early romantic period and the mid-twentieth century. The module will also develop an understanding of the dominant trends in musical life in the period, from performance, reception and aesthetics.Optional modules:In recent years, optional modules have included: Creative Music TechnologyPerformance 2: Practice as ResearchComposition 2: New Directions in Art MusicOrchestrationAdvanced Historical Composition TechniquesTheory and AnalysisStudies in the History of OperaWorld Music TraditionsStudies in Popular Music. Year 3 modulesCore modules:Dissertation, Portfolio of Compositions, a Techniques Portfolio (pastiche compositions) or a Performance Project The final year of this course is structured around an independent project, which can take the form of a musicological Dissertation, a Portfolio of Compositions, a Techniques Portfolio (pastiche compositions) or a Performance Project requiring a 40-minute solo recital.