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January 25

Master of Arts in Composition / Music Theory - Early Music Theory

Key data

Degree: Master of Arts FHNW in Komposition und Musiktheorie - Studienrichtung Theorie der Alten Musik
ECTS points: 120
Start of semester: in autumn
Duration: 4 Semester
Teaching language: Deutsch (level A2 is required)
Place: Campus Musik-Akademie Basel
Application fee: 200 CHF
Semester fee: 800 CHF for Swiss citizens and foreigners with legal place of residence in Switzerland | 1000 CHF for students from EU-/EFTA-countries | 1250 CHF for students from third countries

Studying under the pioneers of historically informed music theory

In the 1970s the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis began developing a programme in the theory of Early Music which takes account of not only the particular conditions under which musical “works of art” were created but also the bearing that musical practice had on this process. This approach, based on historically informed and open engagement with Early Music scores and traditional composition techniques, has also made a major contribution to the advancement of music theory beyond the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. In recent years, Early Music Theory has been the driving force behind a fundamental shift in analytical and practical approaches to music in general.

Experimental engagement with historical ways of thinking and the experience with the compositional process bring the subject of historical performance practice to life in a vibrant and informed way. The study programme also focuses on the interaction between written and oral musical practice.

This Master’s programme covers a wide variety of focal points – from the earliest written evidence of polyphonic music in Europe right through to the 1850s. The curriculum also touches on areas of traditional music theory and provides the foundations for an historically informed theory of later music. Key subjects include historical composition techniques, notation, thoroughbass, improvisation and Contrapunto alla mente (improvised counterpoint). These are supplemented with other courses offered by the Musicology Institute of Basel University. The programme also places particular emphasis on students’ teaching abilities, and the capacity to write and speak on the subject in a clear and competent way.

Overview

Graduates of this Master’s program are qualified for a variety of types of work as teachers of music and teachers of Music Theory at primary and secondary level, at music schools and in higher education. They are equipped with special analytical ‘tools’ that are useful not only for theory development, but also for their own musical practice: from performance practice to dramaturgy, concert presentation and management, and also for careers in journalism and the media.

Structure

Structure MA Composition/Music Theory – Early Music Theory in German

Module descriptions

Below please find the link with all the information on the module descriptions of several FHNW universities.

At the top right, switch the language settings to English.
At the bottom right, filter by semester, Hochschule für Musik Basel FHNW, the desired degree programme or other criteria to display the relevant module information.
Use the PDF button at the top left to call up a document from each overview and save it for yourself.
Course registrations are made via the intranet.

Module descriptions

To be admitted to the Master’s programme, applicants must hold a Bachelor degree in Music/Music and Movement or an equivalent qualification.

Applicants who have failed any part of their Bachelor degree programme may be provisionally admitted to the Master’s programme under the condition that they successfully resit the relevant exam(s) by the end of the first MA semester. In order to be accepted for study, enough billable ECTS credit points must be available to fulfil all requirements of the diploma programme. For the Master's degree the minimum is 30 ECTS credit points. Applicants must declare any ECTS credits they have acquired from a previous course of study that they had failed to complete.
The admission procedure requires applicants pass an aptitude test.
The admission procedure breaks down as follows:

Verification that the applicant meets all formal admission criteria
Admission to the aptitude test
Aptitude test (entrance exam)
Decision on admission.

Admission shall be granted for the academic year to which the aptitude test applies. This test may be retaken no more than once per degree programme/major, but no earlier than the next official aptitude test date.
Places on the degree programme are limited; a quota is set for first-year admissions. Based on the framework regulations governing student intake restrictions for Bachelor and Master’s degree programmes at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (FHNW), the FHNW Academy of Music shall make its final selection based on the level and comparative ranking of the applicants' examination results.