Music Composition (m.phil.) in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Music Composition (m.phil.) in Trinity College Dublin

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 of Composition. Apart from one-on-one mentorship in composition itself, students will take courses in among others, contemporary composition techniques, experimental music theatre and contemporary opera, film music aesthetics, composition with digital technology.  The  M.Phil. in Composition course is  providing a backbone of activity for the Music Composition Centre, part of Trinity’s  initiative in Creative Arts, Technology and Culture. The MPhil Composers collaborate throughout the year with our associated musicians in residence and present their work in collaboration with our musicians at the MPhil in Composition Graduate Show.

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, Composition with Digital Technology, History and Theory of Film Music, Contemporary Opera/Experimental Music Theatre,

Dissertation Module (30 ECTS). The dissertation module consists of two components: (a) final portfolio of composition, and (b) an accompanying thesis of around 3.000  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.