Music Direction 7

Subject guarantor:

Jaroslav RYBÁŘ, Sylva STEJSKALOVÁ

Name of lecturer(s):

Jaroslav RYBÁŘ, Sylva STEJSKALOVÁ

Learning outcomes of the course unit:

1. To create a comprehensive idea of a music director's tasks in the recording, editing and final process of a music recording.

2. Further develop skills in analysing artists' performance.

3. Further develop skills in analysing the sound quality of a music recording.

4. To expand knowledge of music literature in releation to the characteristic markings of historical styles and composition techniques of contemporary music.

5. Introduction to the development and basic technical principles of sound recording.

Mode of study:

Presentation regarding issues in sound recording and the work of the music director in the studio, the various aspects of this activty (ex: the recorded music genre, historical music, modern music, etc, other psychological aspects of musical director work, etc.)

Listening to recordings, analysis of musical performance and recording sound treatment. Comparison of various interpretations and discussions about them.

Student performance analyses in the „Practice in the Studio“ course.

Prerequisites and co-requisites:

Listening ability. Extensive knowledge of music theory (harmony, counterpoint, music form, instrument study). Ability to analyse a work of music. Presumed knowledge of the content from the previous year of study.

Recommended optional programme components:

Copious visits to concert productions, that is opera performances accompanied by critique and analytical perception. Listening to the greatest possible number of recordings in an effort to create one's analytical and critical approach. Visits to professional recording studios.

Course contents:

Lecture section

1) Aesthetics of modern music recordings

2) An acoustic space and its importance in music recording

3) Historical development of the music directing profession

4) Role and position of the music director in a modern professional recording team.

5) Psychological aspects of music directing work

Class section

1) Performance analysis of significant recordings, analysis of their sound concept (space acoustical characteristics, measure of reverb, manner of recording, presence or absence, etc.) Discussion.

2) Comparison of various recordings of the same music, analysis of recording peformance and sound concept. Discussion

3) Analysis and discussions over student performance in recording the the Studio Practice course.

Recommended or required reading:

Music recordings (CD, DVD,LP, cassette).

1. Key recordings of Czech chamber, symphonic and opera music (ex. Smetana: Má vlast - Talich, Ančerl, Neumann, Smetáček, Bělohlávek, Kubelík, etc.)

2. Important recordings of world music (ex.. historically scholarly recordings of J.E. Gardiner - Mozart: Koncerty pro klavír, Beethoven: Symfonie etc.).

Accompanying notation material

Texts:

Jaroslav Rybář: Hudební režie

Instruction texts dealing with issues in recording classical music and music direction. (This text does not currently have the official textbook form for the Music Direction course)

.

Publications:

Václav Syrový: Akustika

Václav Vlachý: Praxe zvukové techniky

Ladislav Šíp: Nahrávání a reprodukovaná hudba

Ladislav Šíp: Pěvci před mikrofonem

Václav Zamazal: Hudební nástroje před mikrofonem

Planned learning activities and teaching methods:

lecture, classes

Assessment methods and criteria:

Credit is awarded based on these criteria:

1. Overall participation in class discussions

2. A written developed semester course paper (analys of the performance and sound concept of a recording) and its in class presentation.

3. A written developed review of at least two concerts or opera performances attended.

Course web page:

Note:

none

Schedule for winter semester 2012/2013:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2012/2013:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Obor Hudební režie (Mg) (compulsory subject of the main qualification)