1. Home
  2. Spatial Music [MUS1616]

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: WA Academy of Performing Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Spatial Music

  • Unit Code

    MUS1616

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    10

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

In this unit students will be required to demonstrate knowledge of spatial music practice. Fundamental of psychoacoustics, and the perception of sound in space are explored through to the practice of point-source and diffused methods of spatialisation. The history of spatial music is discussed and exemplar works are examined. Students develop essential skills in surround sound composition, spatialisation techniques, mixing, and DVD production through practical assignments.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded MUS1207

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically discuss issues that informed developments in Spatial Music.
  2. Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of psychoacoustics, and the perception of sound in space.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of spatial music practice.
  4. Demonstrate skills in surround sound composition, spatialisation techniques, mixing, and DVD production through practical assignments.

Unit Content

  1. An introduction to fundamental concepts of sound placement in three-dimensional space.
  2. Analysis of seminal examples of spatial composition.
  3. Creation of original music for specific media.
  4. The historical context of Spatial music.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, Workshops, Rehearsals, Performances

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ReviewDiscussion notes.5%
Creative WorkGraphic score.20%
Creative WorkPublic installation20%
Creative Work4 5.1 Spatial music DVD.30%
ExaminationTheory reading exam.25%

Text References

  • ^ Bates, E. (2009). The Composition and Performance of Spatial Music.
  • Wishart, T. (1996). On sonic art. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic.
  • Kendall, G. (2007). The artistic play of spatial organisation: spatial attributes, scene analysis and authority spatial schemata, proceedings of the 2007 international computer music conference, Copenhagen, Denmark 2007 (also published in the CMMT post-synposium proceedings, LNCS series 2008).
  • Pottier, L. (2012). Spatialism de la musique electroacoustique.

Journal References

  • Miller, Paul. (2009). Stockhausen and the Serial Shaping of Space. Ph.D. diss. Rochester: University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music.
  • Overholt, Sara Ann. (2006). Karlheinz Stockhausen's spatial theories: analyses of Gruppen fuer drei Orchester amd Oktophonie. Electronische [sic] Musik vom Dienstag asu LICHT. Ph.D. diss. Santa Barbara: University of California, Santa Barbara.
  • Thigpen, Ben. (2009). Spatialism without panning. eContact! 11.4 - Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium 2009 (TES)/Symposium Electroacoustique 2009 de Toronto (December 2009). Montreal: CEC.
  • Trochimczyk, Maja. (2001). From circels to nets; on the signification of spatial sound imagery in new music. Computer music journal 25, no. 4 (Winter). 39-56..
  • Harley, Maria. (1994). Spatial sound movement in the instrumental music of Iannis Xenakis Journal of New Music Research23. 291-314.
  • Wilson, S., et al. (2010) Rethinking the BEAST: recent developments in multichannel composition at Birmingham ElectroAcoustic sound theatre. Organised Sound (15(3).
  • Snalley, D. (2007). Space-form and the acousmatic image. Organised Sound.
  • Zvonar, Richard. (2005). An extremely brief history of spatial music in the 20th century. eContact! 7.4 - Diffusion multi-canal/multichannel diffusion, Montreal: CEC.
  • Brant, Henry. (1978). Space as an essential aspect of musical composition. Contemporary composers on contemporary music, edited by Elliott Schwartz and Barney Childs, with Jim Fox. Da Capo Press Music Reprint Series. New York: Da Capo Press. 221-242.

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

MUS1616|1|1

Faculty of Education and Arts

School: WA Academy of Performing Arts

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Spatial Music

  • Unit Code

    MUS1616

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    10

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

In this unit students will be required to demonstrate knowledge of spatial music practice. Fundamental of psychoacoustics, and the perception of sound in space are explored through to the practice of point-source and diffused methods of spatialisation. The history of spatial music is discussed and exemplar works are examined. Students develop essential skills in surround sound composition, spatialisation techniques, mixing, and DVD production through practical assignments.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded MUS1207

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Critically discuss issues that informed developments in Spatial Music.
  2. Demonstrate a fundamental understanding of psychoacoustics, and the perception of sound in space.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of spatial music practice.
  4. Demonstrate skills in surround sound composition, spatialisation techniques, mixing, and DVD production through practical assignments.

Unit Content

  1. An introduction to fundamental concepts of sound placement in three-dimensional space.
  2. Analysis of seminal examples of spatial composition.
  3. Creation of original music for specific media.
  4. The historical context of Spatial music.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, Workshops, Rehearsals, Performances

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ReviewDiscussion notes.5%
Creative WorkGraphic score.20%
Creative WorkPublic installation20%
Creative Work4 5.1 Spatial music DVD.30%
ExaminationTheory reading exam.25%

Text References

  • ^ Bates, E. (2009). The Composition and Performance of Spatial Music.
  • Wishart, T. (1996). On sonic art. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic.
  • Kendall, G. (2007). The artistic play of spatial organisation: spatial attributes, scene analysis and authority spatial schemata, proceedings of the 2007 international computer music conference, Copenhagen, Denmark 2007 (also published in the CMMT post-synposium proceedings, LNCS series 2008).
  • Pottier, L. (2012). Spatialism de la musique electroacoustique.

Journal References

  • Miller, Paul. (2009). Stockhausen and the Serial Shaping of Space. Ph.D. diss. Rochester: University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music.
  • Overholt, Sara Ann. (2006). Karlheinz Stockhausen's spatial theories: analyses of Gruppen fuer drei Orchester amd Oktophonie. Electronische [sic] Musik vom Dienstag asu LICHT. Ph.D. diss. Santa Barbara: University of California, Santa Barbara.
  • Thigpen, Ben. (2009). Spatialism without panning. eContact! 11.4 - Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium 2009 (TES)/Symposium Electroacoustique 2009 de Toronto (December 2009). Montreal: CEC.
  • Trochimczyk, Maja. (2001). From circels to nets; on the signification of spatial sound imagery in new music. Computer music journal 25, no. 4 (Winter). 39-56..
  • Harley, Maria. (1994). Spatial sound movement in the instrumental music of Iannis Xenakis Journal of New Music Research23. 291-314.
  • Wilson, S., et al. (2010) Rethinking the BEAST: recent developments in multichannel composition at Birmingham ElectroAcoustic sound theatre. Organised Sound (15(3).
  • Snalley, D. (2007). Space-form and the acousmatic image. Organised Sound.
  • Zvonar, Richard. (2005). An extremely brief history of spatial music in the 20th century. eContact! 7.4 - Diffusion multi-canal/multichannel diffusion, Montreal: CEC.
  • Brant, Henry. (1978). Space as an essential aspect of musical composition. Contemporary composers on contemporary music, edited by Elliott Schwartz and Barney Childs, with Jim Fox. Da Capo Press Music Reprint Series. New York: Da Capo Press. 221-242.

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

MUS1616|1|2