Composition Workshop (440-0-1)

Topic

To Sing, Writing for Voice

Instructors

Hans Christian Thomalla
h-thomalla@northwestern.edu
Native of Bonn, Germany. Recipient of numerous awards including the 2004 Kranichsteiner Musikpreis and the 2005 Christoph Delz Prize. Has been a fellow of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Music has been performed by major German ensembles, including the SWR-Radiosinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, SR-Sinfonieorchester, Ensemble Modern, and Ensemble Recherche. A CD of his works forthcoming on the Wergo label. Has also been affiliated with the Stuttgart Opera as a dramaturg and programmer for the new-music concert series <em>Dialoge</em>. For more information, visit Hans Thomalla's personal web site.

Meeting Info

RCMA Lower Level 113: Tues 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

The workshop explores writing for voice. The main focus will rest on practical investigations
into the subject of vocal music: composing and discussing small studies. In addition to these
exercises analytical and theoretical topics will enhance the understanding of possibilities in
writing for voice. From Schumann's songs to Ligeti's Aventures, from Nono's Fabbrica
Illuminata to Crumb's Sleeper a wide variety of historic and contemporary works for voice will
be discussed, while classes on the physical properties of the human voice, on singing
microtonal music, as well as on notation will investigate theoretical aspects of the topic.

Learning Objectives

Contemporary Vocal Music; techniques of writing for voice

Teaching Method

Analysis of repertoire; composition exercises

Evaluation Method

Homeworks, final presentation

Class Materials (Required)

PDF readings provided by instructor