Mp3 Music Samples
These samples are from work submitted for assessment by students.
Level Two
These samples are from work submitted for assessment by students on Composition and Improvisation Level Two. Students are required to compose a piece of music that utilises improvisatory forms in the initial stages of composition to create a unity between collaborators and inspire compositional ideas to generate entire pieces. All musicians you hear in these samples are members of the class.
Siri Ravna Twisted Thirsty Toot (file size 776KB)
This piece uses an imaginary language to create lyrics that provide a broad textural palette. The close counterpoint was intended to create a sense of dissonance between the vocals and guitar, which adds to the sense of drama and mystery.
Alistair Blair-Fish (Live performance) (file size 1.55MB)
This piece was part of a four piece collaboration Alistair worked with in his class. Working on the phrase ‘The suburbs dream of violence’ as a stimulus Alistair produced this piece to explore the crazy darkness that lurks behind every suburban front door. Alistair usual plays bass guitar, but here he is on kit.
The following example is taken from students studying on the Level Two module Structures and Politics of Rock. As well as an essay worth 50% of their final module mark, students are also asked to produce a track exploring their understanding of a particular style of rock (or any contemporary popular) music.
Amy Clapinson The Crocus will bloom soon (file size 1.31MB)
Maiken Kroken Beneath the Magic (file size 864KB)
Level Three
The following samples are taken from Level Three Advanced Improvisation and Applied Composition 2006. Students are required to build on techniques developed in the Level One and Two improvisation and composition classes to create their work. Pieces are required to be longer in duration than in the previous modules. Students are also encouraged to use the forces present in the class for their live work. All performers on the live recordings are members of the class for this module.
Nicolette Corcoran Nomad (file size 983KB)
Nicolette experimented with recording and layering different patterns using only her voice to create a changing palette of textures. It is called Nomad as Nicolette felt that the piece travelled through various stages of creation, and possibly reflects her own journey on discovering different approaches to her own voice and vocal composition.
Alik Peters-Deacon Devotion (Live Performance) (file size 1MB) and version 2 (Live Performance) (file size 808KB)
Two examples of a composition for band that is well crafted and would sound good in any live venue. The changing sections and the subtle shifts in rhythmic intention keep the listener waiting as to what will happen next without disrupting the feel good factor of the music.
Josh Crivelli (Live Performance) (file size 1.19MB)
Another example of a composition for band. Excellent musicianship is in evidence here and the relationships between all the instruments is well balanced and there is some solid guitar, bass and kit work as well as some wonderful solos from the sax players.
Suzanna Hicks The Sudan Project (file size 1MB)
This is another vocal piece that explores the potential of layering vocal ostinato patterns. This time Suzanna was inspired by her trip to Morocco in the summer of 2006. The piece juxtaposes Arabic and English lyrics and Suzanna generated the melodies after combining different harmonies, really exploring how improvisation can be used to generate different approaches to the compositional process. Suzanna described the compositional process of this track as being like ‘a river’: harmonies generated harmonies with melodies intuitively felt as the structure took shape.
The following sample is taken from work submitted by students on the Level Three Module Composing for Dance. Students are required to either re score an existing dance film or collaborate with a dancer(s) or choreographer to produce a live performance of music and dance. Students are encouraged to improvise in both the music and dance space and are taught through improvisation about the vocabulary of dance as an art form.
Samantha Vine Untitled No.1 (file size 1.22MB)
This sample is taken from Sam’s sound score for a collaboration with two dancers studying Performing Arts. Using a limited range of forces of guitar and piano samples (including forks and vibrating mobile phones on piano strings) Sam was investigating the affect music has on the viewer whilst watching dance.
All three clips below were from performances at the Improvisation Concert in March 2006. The Improvisation concerts are held to bring Students and professional performers together within the improvisatory context.
Choir Improvisation
1st Year Chamber Choir (2006) with accompanying sound score by Louise Jackson.
Choir Audio Clip mp3 (file size 609KB)
Band Improvisation
The band comprised of music students from all years that had been jamming for a couple of weeks.
Band Audio Clip mp3 (file size 498KB)
End of Night Improvisation
This was a 'free-for-all' to finish the night. Everybody that had participated in the evening took their turn in a twenty minute long group improvisation.
End of Night Audio Clip mp3 (file size 674KB)