Instructor: Dr. Sever Tipei
TA: Advith Govindarajan
email: s-tipei@illinois.edu
Office hours: Tu 2-3
Course website:
musicalInfo.web.illinois.edu
An approach to Music Theory and Composition unburdened by stylistic rules and considerations: fundamental elements of music will be illustrated through logical and mathematical concepts. The goals of the course are to define the internal structure of sounds and to present a few general methods of organizing them in complex compositions.
Musicians with limited familiarity with mathematics as well as scientifically oriented people with little musical background are encouraged to participate.
Among the main topics to be discussed are:
Recommended readings and background information
| Herbert Brün | When Music Resists Meaning |
| From Musical Ideas to Computers and Back | |
| Lejaren Hiller | Experimental Music |
| Gareth Loy | Musimatics |
| Abraham Moles | Information Theory and Aesthetic Perception |
| Karheinz Stockhausen | ...how time passes... |
| Aurel Stroe | Morphogenetic Music |
| Iannis Xenakis | Formalized Music |
| Various articles from |
|
There will be a Final Project as well as short assignments following each topic discussed in class. Some will involve the use of dedicated software, listening to selected works, and solving or designing solutions for specific musical problems.
Grading:
The grades:weight toward the final grade 12 assignments 60% Final project 40%
98-100 A+ 93-97 A 90-92 A- 88-90 B+ 83-87 B 80-82 B- 78-80 C+ 73-77 C 70-72 C- 68-70 D+ 63-67 D 60-82 D- 0-60 F
Recognizing the difference in students' backgrounds, some assignments will include options allowing the participants to choose between more music-oriented topics and topics requiring greater familiarity with mathematics or computer science.
Attendance policy.
Sample policy statements can be found at
for policies on missed classes and for
policies on missed exams.
Attendance and participation in class are crucial to success in this course.
Since there is no book or manual for it, students will be responsible for taking
detailed notes during lectures. Three unexcused absences will lower your grade
by 1/2 a grade point.
Please read carefully:
According to Article 1, Part IV, section 402 of the University of Illinois
Student Code, plagiarism is defined as representing the
words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic endeavor. This includes
copying another student's paper or working with another person when both submit
similar papers without authorization to satisfy an individual assignment.
This constitutes an infraction of academic integrity that may result in a
variety of penalties as well as a permanent record of the infraction being
placed in your student file (see
http://admin.illinois.edu/policy/code/article1_part4_1-403.html
[ms6.express.cites.illinois.edu]).
Please follow this link and read carefully: emergency procedures
Disabilities
If you have a disability that requires special testing accommodations or other
classroom modifications,you should notify meand the Division of Disability
Resources and Educational Services (DRES) no later than the 2nd week of the
term. You may be asked to provide documentation of your disability to
determine the appropriateness of accommodations. To notify DRES,
call 217.333.4603 (Voice or TTY) or send them an email at disability@uiuc.edu.
Their Office is located at 1207 S. Oak St. in Champaign.
Sexual Misconduct Reporting Obligation
The University of Illinois is committed to combating sexual misconduct. Faculty and staff members are required to report any instances of sexual misconduct to the University’s Title IX and Disability Office. In turn, an individual with the Title IX and Disability Office will provide information about rights and options, including accommodations, support services, the campus disciplinary process, and law enforcement options
Final examination: 1:30-4:30 p.m., Monday, May 6.
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