Choral Arranging (MUSC 223)

Since the beginning of time, humans have sung--in one situation or another: friends gathered around campfires, workers at their tasks, minstrels in taverns, the faithful in religious services, choirs in church and in concert settings. But unless everybody sings in unison, somebody has to figure out who sings what, or else cacophony results. In the early days, this was discovered by trial and error, and what worked well was passed on by oral tradition from one generation to the next. Today, with so many styles of music a part of our listening experience and with notational systems in place to preserve and transmit them, we are able to study systematically the various ways voices can be combined into choral textures. While the primary focus of the course will be on classical and folk traditions, the techniques of arranging studied will prove equally useful for other styles as well.

The course will involve explanations of and exercises with various technical aspects of arranging and then a writing project demonstrating one aspect. The results will be performed in class for appraisal and suggestions. Every attempt will be made to develop the skills and abilities of the individual student, rather than requiring a uniform level of style and expertise.

Prerequisite: MUSC 121 and 122, or with permission of instructor.

Credit?
Arts and Science--professional
Engineering--elective
Peabody--humanities for most majors

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