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MUSI3017:

Composition Portfolio

2025-2026

SCHEDULE

Semester 1

Format

Topics

Time

Date

Location

Lecture

 

Beginnings

Notation

2pm to 4pm

Thursday 9 October

28/1019

Tutorial

Review homework

2pm to 4pm

 

Thursday 16 October

 

07/3023

Lecture

Rhythm and metre

More notation

2pm to 4pm

 

Thursday 23 October

 

28/1019

Tutorial

 

Review homework

2pm to 4pm

 

Thursday 30 October

 

Online

Lecture

Tonality, diatonicism & pitch fields

 

2pm to 4pm

 

Thursday 6 November

 

28/1019

Tutorial

Review homework

2pm to 4pm

 

Thursday 13 November

 

Online

Lecture

Texture

Commentaries

2pm to 4pm

 

Thursday 20 November

 

28/1019

Tutorials

 

Feedback on your assignment

Check timetable

 

See timetable: Thursday 27 or Friday 28 November

07/3023

Tutorials

 

Feedback on your assignment

Check timetable

 

See timetable: Thursday 4 or Friday 5 December

07/3023

Tutorials

 

Feedback on your assignment

Check timetable

 

Thursday 11 or Friday 12 December

Online

Workshop

 

10am to 5pm

 

Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 January. (You will be assigned a 3-hour slot)

Turner Sims

Semester 2 – to be confirmed

ACCESSIBILITY

This module is accessible to all students regardless of disability, specific learning difficulty or other condition that could affect your learning. If you have special needs or require assistance to reach your full potential in our work together I will support you by working with Enabling Services and the Department and School Senior Tutors. Please feel free to talk to me, your PAT or any other member of staff about anything that may impact your academic performance.

For more information: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/edusupport/index.page.

ASSESSMENT 1

25% of final mark

Due: 12 January 2026

Five-minute piece for 2, 3 or 4 musicians from the following options:

Oboe      Clarinet      Cello      Piano

Dates to note:

(1) You will email electronic copies of score/parts by email to me by 10am on Thursday 18 December so our guests can prepare.

(2) Pieces will be workshopped on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 January. Each of you will be placed in a 3-hour slot.

(3) Assessment deadline: 12 January 2026

Submission:

Work submitted electronically for assessment through e-assignment. You submit:

- Score in PDF format.

- Recording of your work, preferably workshop recording or MIDI realisation

- A commentary of approximately 500 words in PDF format.

ASSESSMENT 2

75% of final mark

Due: 5 June 2026

Portfolio of compositions totaling approximately fifteen minutes. The portfolio will be assessed as a whole.

· Work should be submitted electronically for assessment through e-assignment.

- Scores in PDF format.

- Recordings of your pieces in MP3 format (workshop recordings or electronic realisation)

- A commentary of approximately 1500 words

MARKING CRITERIA

There are certain constants in composition that can be assessed regardless of style. These are reflected in the following criteria: 

· Clarity of intention.

· Degree of originality, individuality and imagination.

· How compelling the listening experience is - in terms of the actual material, what happens to the material, and/or the experience that the material affords.

· The degree of control that the student exercises over the material (e.g. developmental possibilities) and an awareness of stylistic issues.

· The works relevance to present-day compositional ideas.

· Clarity of structure, balance of proportions, and management of large-scale structure.

· Legibility, script, layout, presentation and general competency.

Note: work that is highly competent but largely unambitious might receive the same grade as a work with significant technical problems but which is experimental in scope.

80-100

Exceptional/masterful creativity, originality, inventiveness and imagination

Exceptional (flawless or near flawless) technical execution (including where appropriate production skills)

Excellent attention to the brief

Excellent organisation (presentation and other delivery requirements)

70-79

Excellent creativity, originality, inventiveness and imagination, demonstrating comprehensive study and preparation

Excellent technical execution (including where appropriate production skills)

Excellent attention to the brief

Excellent organisation (presentation and other delivery requirements)

60-69

Very good creativity, originality, inventiveness and imagination

Very good technical execution (including where appropriate production skills)

Very good attention to the brief

Very good, consistent organisation (presentation and other delivery requirements)

50-59

Good evidence of creativity, originality, inventiveness and imagination

Good technical execution (including where appropriate production skills)

Competent attention to the brief

Good organisation (presentation and other delivery requirements)

40-49

Competent level of creativity, originality, inventiveness and imagination

Competent technical execution (including where appropriate production skills)

Acceptable attention to the brief

Acceptable, consistent organisation (presentation and other delivery requirements)

25-39

Little evidence of creativity, originality, inventiveness and imagination

Borderline poor technical execution (including where appropriate production skills)

Poor attention to the brief

Borderline poor organisation (presentation and other delivery requirements)

0-24

Little or no evidence of creativity, originality, inventiveness and imagination

Inadequate technical execution (including where appropriate production skills)

Inadequate attention to the brief

Inadequate organisation (presentation and other delivery requirements)