Composition II

Composition II is where you stop writing for a single instrument and start thinking about how multiple voices interact — building chamber pieces (duos, trios) by taking one small musical idea and generating contrasting material around it through rhythm, texture, and counterpoint. Most of the semester is spent assembling a dossier of works totalling at least five minutes, which you'll defend in front of a jury at the final by analyzing your own scores. The course leans heavily on private tutoring rather than lectures, so progress depends on what you bring to each meeting; it's the bridge between solo-instrument exercises and the larger ensemble writing you'll tackle in later composition studios.