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Early Music Medieval-Renaissance instrument/voice

The music of the Middle Ages: a specialisation like no other

Key data

Degree: Master of Arts FHNW in Musik - Studienrichtung Alte Musik Mittelalter-Renaissance instrumental / vokal
ECTS points: 120
Start of semester: in autumn
Duration: 4 semesters
Teaching language: German (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

The study of music from the Medieval-Renaissance period encompasses works dating from around 900 to 1530, and up to 1600 in specific cases.

Achieving the highest level of proficiency as an instrumental/vocal soloist is an important goal of this Master’s programme. Given that ensemble playing is integral to medieval and Early Modern music, the study programme also focuses on nurturing excellent ensemble musicianship, allowing students to acquire the skills needed to put their musical knowledge and expertise into practice in ensemble performance and direction.

This specialised Master’s programme requires students to have a thorough foundation in theoretical, practical and contextual subjects and topics that are of direct relevance to medieval and Early Modern Music. They must also be capable of independent study and inquiry. The in-depth study of a specialist subject from the period as well as the writing of a Master’s thesis provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their academic research skills and their ability to apply these in practice.

Overview

The primary goal of this programme is to help to develop an independent artistic personality as well as the ability to combine historic and artistic aspects of Early Music both creatively and with outstanding instrumental/vocal proficiency. Given that career prospects for musicians specialising in the medieval and Renaissance periods is limited to the open ‘music market’ (i.e. concerts, tuition and recordings), it is especially important that students nurture their artistic and intellectual independence, develop a distinctive and creative musical personality and perfect their ability to deliver compelling performances of the highest calibre.

This Master’s programme is aimed at students who hold a very good Bachelor of Arts with a specialisation in medieval-Renaissance music from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, as well as those who have studied elsewhere but have a solid grounding in the theory and practice of relevant to these eras. The focus of the study programme is European music from Carolingian period until the 16^th century.

Career opportunities for medieval-Renaissance music specialists include performance work in concert, festival and Early Music concert series settings. As expert ensemble musicians, they are qualified to play with existing ensembles or establish their own ensemble. A number of graduates opt to pursue a career in academic research within their chosen field of specialisation, while others choose to share their experience and expertise in workshops and masterclasses.

The primary aim of this Master’s programme is to hone the students’ instrumental and vocal proficiency as well as their ability to work as part of an ensemble. Furthermore, independent academic work and the students’ artistic/creative output are fostered through a yearly project, under the supervision of a member of the teaching staff, on a subject specific to medieval-Renaissance music. A Master’s thesis provides proof of the candidate’s capacity to deal with a subject in a scholarly and reflective manner.

The Master’s programme also provides students with extensive ensemble-playing experience, as well as the skills needed to direct such formations.

Core curriculum (CP 80)

Major module

Major subject: individual and group tuition
Ensemble practicum and direction
Major-specific courses/regulations

Complementary courses (CP 22)

Music Theory module, advanced level

Specialisation – practice, theory, context
Master thesis colloquium

Elective courses (CP 18)

Personalised module

Courses/activities chosen from the electives on offer

Detailed module descriptions

Modulplan

To be admitted to the Master’s programme, applicants must hold a Bachelor degree in Music (or 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 to 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.

The entrance examsconsist of a first round "by video" and a second round with on-site auditions.

First round/Video recordings

Video recordings must be handed in as part of the application.

Content: Please prepare 3 pieces that present a selection of different stylistic fields. Use the repertoire samples as a guide. Applicants must perform on period instruments or replicas thereof in the entrance exams. List the information on your “list of works”.
Form: three separate uncut videos of music (one per piece)
Total length of the videos together: 15 – max. 20 minutes.
Date: The recordings should usually be new and prepared for the entrance exams. Published videos only uncut and not older than six months.
(Continuo-)Accompaniment: is requested. You can work with people from your own setting.

Technical requirements:

Camera Position: Please record the video from a fixed point of view, ideally using a tripod. The hands and the face of the candidate / musician plus the instrument must be visible.
Audio: We recommend using a separate stereo microphone and placing it properly (If necessary, you may also use the microphone of a camera, computer, or smartphone).

Transmission:

Video Platform: Please upload your three videos unlisted to Youtube. (exception: candidates from China may use a corresponding alternative platform).
Create a “list of works” with the information on the pieces played including the corresponding Youtube links.
Please also enter the Youtube links in the registration tool.
Please ensure that the videos are accessible until end of June 2023.
Submit the list of works with the rest of your application or send it via email to cmVnaXN0cmF0aW9uLmhzbUBmaG53LmNo by 31 January.

Only applicants considered for the second round will be invited to an on-site audition.

Second round/on-site audition

Please also refer to the document Eignungsabklärung.

Audition plus interview: Please prepare a programme of 15 to max. 20 minutes with pieces from at least three different stylistic fields. Also use the repertoire samples as a guide. The programme may be identical to the one of the video. The candidate may choose the first piece. Then, the jury will decide which works to play and is allowed to interrupt the audition at any time. Afterwards, there will be a short conversation about the study objectives and contents as well as the applicant´s prior education, experience and career goals, the preferred professor, etc.

The general section of the entrance exam (theory) takes place on the same day, usually before or after the on-site audition for the main subject. Further information can be found here (duration: 20 min.).

Date

The on-site auditions will take place from 13 March to 6 April. The exact dates may be seen here after the beginning of January 2023.

Registration

You may apply from 15 December 22 until 31 January 23.

The following documents must be handed in with your application: Curriculum Vitae including motivational letter, school leaving qualification (Matura, Abitur, Baccalauréat, High School-Diploma) and Bachelor Diploma. If the applicant already holds a Master Diploma, please include.

Announcement of the results

The results of the first round will be communicated by email by the end of February.
The results of the second round will be communicated by email in May.