Music 312 Mini-Etude #1: Writing for Soprano & Piano (Fall 2008)

Overall Requirements

Duration — 2'-3' in total length

Instrumentation — soprano and piano

Texture — focus on the following

1. Clear voice leading
2. Variety in chord voicing
3. Every octave of the piano

Pitch Language — diatonic modes either separately or in some combination:

1. Modal requirements
   1. Dorian mode
   2. Phrygian mode
   3. Lydian mode
   4. Mixolydian mode
   5. Or, an original mode that you devise
2. Harmonic requirements
   1. Triadic & diatonic, and/or extended triadic & diatonic verticalities
   2. Triadic & chromatic triadic harmonies, and/or extended triadic & chromatic verticalities
3. Modulation/tonicization requirements
   1. Two modulations to/tonicizations of keys that are a chromatic third relationship removed from the orginal tonic
   2. One modulation to/tonicization of a key that is a tritone relationship removed from the orginal tonic

Metric Stability — symmetrical meters, including simple and duple meters (2/4, 6/8, 3/4, 9/8 etc.)

Phrase Structure Stability — symmetrical phrase structures

Text Setting — Text setting should be primarily syllabic with occasional use of melisma. Strive for an artful and creative setting. Choose one of the following text options:

1. Emily Dickinson, "The Grass" from Poems, First Series (1890)
2. Robert Frost, "The Sound of the Trees" from Mountain Interval (1916)
3. Robert Louis Stevenson, "Summer Sun"
4. Or, choose your own text

Repertoire Examples — Study the following song examples:
ViCH Listening List

1. Benjamin Britten, "A Cradle Song" from A Charm of Lullabies Op. 41 (1947), for mezzo-soprano
2. Benjamin Britten, "The Nurse's Song" from A Charm of Lullabies Op. 41 (1947), for mezzo-soprano
3. Aaron Copland, "There came a wind like a bugle" #2 from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson (1950), for soprano
4. Aaron Copland, "Going to heaven" #11 from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson (1950), for soprano
5. Charles Ives, "The Housatonic at Stockbridge" #15 from 114 Songs (1919–24)
6. Charles Ives, "At the River" #45 from 114 Songs (1919–24)
7. Charles Ives, "Slugging a Vampire" #41 from 129 Songs

Score Preparation — the score requirements include:

1. Portrait orientation, 8.5"x11" page
2. Title page with complete information - title, composer, text author, year
3. Preface page (back of cover page in a double sided layout) - include the complete text
4. 1st score page - title, composer, text author, copyright
5. Subsequent pages - page numbers, abbreviated instrument names
6. Tempo markings at the beginning and throughout as needed
7. Dynamics throughout (remember dynamics go above the staff in vocal music)
8. Articulations throughout
9. Phrasings throughout
10. Rehearsal letters and measure numbers throughout
11. Other performance or expression markings
12. Spiral-bound; two-sided printing

Audio recording — create an audio CD of your Mini-Etude #1, exporting the audio recording from Sibelius 5 or Finale 2008

DUE: Thursday, 10/9, Composition Seminar Class Time

Three copies of the first draft of the full score must be submitted by Thursday, 10/9, to Prof. Alexander.

DUE: Thursday, 10/16, Composition Seminar Class Time

An in-class presentation of the first draft of your song on Thursday, 10/16.

DUE: Thursday, 10/25, Composition Seminar Class Time

Three copies of the final version of the full score and audio recording must be submitted by Thursday, 10/25, to Prof. Alexander.