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MUS41240

Academic Year 2024/2025

A History of Electronic Music (MUS41240)

Subject:
Music
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Music
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Sean L Clancy
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Electronic music is inextractable from the experience of modern life. From academic composition studios in universities and radio stations to highly polished commercial pop music to DIY house & electronica, electronic music radiates into most aspects of contemporary society crossing political, gender, and racial boundaries. This six week module examines the history of three key techniques of electronic music: musique concrète/field recording, synthesis, and sampling, exploring and contextualising the work of composers/producers in a historical continuum that is often anchored to place. Through seminar styled classes, students are equipped with the tools to both discuss and create electronic music, whilst contextualising it amongst work from the mid-twentieth century onwards. Students are assessed on their choice of a musicological essay exploring one or more of the topics covered in class, or a creative response in a composition/song/track that utilises one or more of the techniques surveyed in class.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
- demonstrate a contextual knowledge of electronic music from the mid-twentieth century to the present day in a variety of different genres.
- explain and evaluate the importance of place on the formation of different electronic musical styles.
- Observe the contribution that electronic music composers and producers have made to music & society more broadly.
- deploy with precision the creative techniques and characteristics of electronic music in multiple styles, notably musique concrète, synthesis, and sampling.
- have an improved knowledge of electronic music repertoire and improved listening skills.
- have an improved knowledge of conducting research and improved communication skills both creatively and academically.

Indicative Module Content:

Weeks 1 & 2: Musique Concrète & Field Recording (eg El Dabh, Lockwood, Barrett, Ahti, Schaeffer, Henry, Oliveros, Ferrari, Parmegiani etc).
Weeks 3 & 4: Synthesis (eg Tudor, Ciani, Pan Sonic/Vainio, Radigue, Spiegel, Moog & Buchla synthesizers, sequencing etc)
Weeks 5 & 6: Sampling (eg JDilla, RZA/Wu-tang Clan, DJ Rashad, JLin, Mariam Rezaei etc)

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Lectures

12
Project Supervision

12
Total

124

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
In-person seminars 2 hours per week
office hours with module coordinator
self-directed research, study, composition and/or academic writing.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Create a piece of electronic music of c 5 minutes that uses one or more of the techniques discussed in class OR Write a commentary of between 3-5000 words discussing one or more of the topics explored Week 14 Graded No

100

 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be given individually to students, post-assessment by written and annotated remarks through the VLE.

Name Role
Mr Dunk Murphy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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