MA Specialized Music Performance | Early Music instrumental improvisation
Hochschule für Musik Basel
Composing music in the contemporary musical language was an essential skill for all well-qualified musicians until well into the 19th century. The improvisational approach played a decisive role in the programme and forms the basis of the master’s degree in Improvisation at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. Improvisation in its various forms is central to historical music practice. This is where almost all the skills acquired in early music flow together. In addition to contemporary descriptions and methods, traditional compositions are essential and often the only sources for the unscripted practice of certain epochs. Stylistic composition is therefore a central element of the degree programme, as are improvisation in the ensemble, questions of methodological teaching and performance-related aspects.
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- Deepening knowledge of historical compositional theory, the thoroughbass and historical sources, and communicating in improvisation and composition in a reflective, creative and artistically convincing manner.
- Developing the highest technical skills and personal creativity in order to express yourself in a stylistically differentiated manner in improvisational and compositional discourse.
Steckbrief
Zukunftsaussichten
Learning outcomes
Strengthening historically informed improvisation in the context of practical performance leads to new impulses in historical performance and creates a bridge to contemporary forms of improvised music. Graduates of this programme will be capable of presenting creative performances based on historical criteria. An intentional ‘side-effect’ of this programme is to establish a new, creative approach to existing ‘monuments’ of music literature, and to achieve an up-to-date, dynamic attitude towards our musical heritage.
Career prospects
Graduates can make improvisation and composition in styles from the 16th to 18th centuries a centrepiece of their concert programmes and apply these in their work as a professional ensemble director/continuo player. In addition, for those working as lecturers, teachers and tutors, the historically-informed and methodically reflected approach to improvisation and composition in different Early Music styles, which they have acquired during their studies, will form a central component of their work as educators.
Target audience
This programme is aimed particularly at keyboard instrumentalists who are advanced not only technically but also in their ability to improvise according to historically informed criteria. Players of melody instruments may also be accepted on this programme, if they show a special talent and affinity for improvisation.
Aufbau und Inhalte
Historically informed improvisation
Until well into the 19th century, among the many talents well-qualified musicians had to have was the ability to perform in the musical idiom of the time. This also formed an essential part of the improvisational training they received.
In addition to contemporary accounts and methods, the compositions which have been passed down through the centuries constitute important, and often the only, sources for unwritten musical practices of certain eras. Consequently, stylistically-informed composition is a core part of this study programme.
This specialized Master’s programme also focuses on improvisation within an ensemble, as well as issues pertaining to the sharing of methodological expertise and performance practice (clarity, sound aesthetics, contact with the public, stage presence).
Improvisation in all its variants – for keyboard players, practically all forms of solo repertoire; for players of melody instruments particularly ornamentation, diminution, variations and cadences – is a central element of historical performance practice. Ideally, this is where all the specific knowledge and competence gained in the field of Early Music flows together to create an exciting realm of ‘composition in performance’. The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis (SCB) offers a unique combination of courses in practical improvisation, history, and historical composition techniques, which have been developed and refined over the course of its degree programmes.
The aim of this programme is to provide students with the ability to improvise with a high degree of stylistic differentiation, as well as attaining knowledge of historic composition techniques and thoroughbass, advanced instrument proficiency, and individual musical creativity.
Modules and regulations
The BA and MA degree programs at the Basel Academy of Music are based on modules.
The legally binding structure provides an initial guide to the content and weighting of the subjects on the degree program.
The detailed content and modalities of the individual subjects can be found in the module descriptions.
The study regulations come into force together with the study and examination regulations of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW and form the legal framework.
Vertiefungen
International
Leitung und Dozierende
Voraussetzungen, Zulassung, Eignungsabklärung
Language skills
We expect students to have good German language skills at the beginning of the studies. Students who are not German native speakers must present at least a B1 German language certificate (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)) at the beginning of the studies.