At the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, a theory of early music has been developed since the 1970s that takes into account the different framework conditions of musical works of art of the past and leaves room for the contribution of musical practice to the creation of a musical work. In this master’s degree, students choose different areas of specialisation ranging from the earliest examples of European polyphonic music to the period around 1850. The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis is a recognised centre for early music. With high-calibre lecturers and an inspiring and diverse community of students, it offers ideal conditions for studying music at the highest level.
Factsheet
- Degree
- Master of Arts FHNW in Komposition und Musiktheorie, Studienrichtung Theorie der Alten Musik
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Learning environment
- Onsite
- ECTS points
- 120
- Duration
- 4 semesters
- Language
- German: level B2 is required
- Staying abroad
- Possible
- Application fee
- 200 CHF
- Semester fee
- 750 CHF (CH) | 1000 CHF (EU/EFTA) | 1250 CHF (Not-EU/Not-EFTA)
At a glance
- Examining the interaction between written and unwritten musical practice
- Engaging in historical ways of thinking from traditional music theory to the basis of a historically founded theory of later music
- Historical typography, notation, thoroughbass, improvisation and contrapunto alla mente
- Supplementary courses from the Department of Musicology at the University of Basel
Why study this?
Graduates of this programme are qualified for a variety of types of work as teachers of music and teachers of Music Theory at primary and secondary level, at music schools and in higher education. They are equipped with special analytical ‘tools’ that are useful not only for theory development, but also for their own musical practice: from performance practice to dramaturgy, concert presentation and management, and also for careers in journalism and the media.
Structure and programme contents
Studying under the pioneers of historically informed music theory
In the 1970s the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis began developing a programme in the theory of Early Music which takes account of not only the particular conditions under which musical “works of art” were created but also the bearing that musical practice had on this process. This approach, based on historically informed and open engagement with Early Music scores and traditional composition techniques, has also made a major contribution to the advancement of music theory beyond the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. In recent years, Early Music Theory has been the driving force behind a fundamental shift in analytical and practical approaches to music in general.
Experimental engagement with historical ways of thinking and the experience with the compositional process bring the subject of historical performance practice to life in a vibrant and informed way. The study programme also focuses on the interaction between written and oral musical practice.
This Master’s programme covers a wide variety of focal points – from the earliest written evidence of polyphonic music in Europe right through to the 1850s. The curriculum also touches on areas of traditional music theory and provides the foundations for an historically informed theory of later music. Key subjects include historical composition techniques, notation, thoroughbass, improvisation and Contrapunto alla mente (improvised counterpoint). These are supplemented with other courses offered by the Musicology Institute of Basel University. The programme also places particular emphasis on students’ teaching abilities, and the capacity to write and speak on the subject in a clear and competent way.
Modules and regulations
The BA and MA degree programmes at the Basel Academy of Music are based on modules.
The legally binding structure provides an initial guide to the content and weighting of the subjects on the degree programme.
The detailed content and modalities of the individual subjects can be found in the module descriptions.
The study regulations come into force together with the study and examination regulations of the Basel Academy of Music FHNW and form the legal framework.
Structure
Module descriptions
Below please find the link with all the information on the module descriptions of several FHNW schools.
- Switch the language settings to English.
- Filter by semester, Hochschule für Musik Basel FHNW, the desired degree programme or other criteria to display the relevant module information.
- Use the PDF button to call up a document from each overview and save it for yourself.
- Course registrations are made via the intranet.
Study Regulations
Lecturers
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
Requirements, admission, entrance exam
We expect students to have good German language skills at the beginning of the studies. Students who are not German native speakers must present at least a B1 German language certificate (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)) at the beginning of the studies.
Admission Criteria
To be admitted to the Master’s programme, applicants must hold a Bachelor degree in Music/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 pass an entrance exam. It breaks down as follows:
- Verification that the applicant meets all formal admission criteria
- Admission to the entrance exam
- Entrance exam
- Decision on admission.
Admission shall be granted for the academic year to which the entrance exam applies. This test may be retaken no more than once per degree programme/major, but no earlier than the next official entrance exam 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.
For further information on the admission criteria, please see the Study Course Regulations MA Composition/Music Theory – Early Music Theory in German.
Entrance exam
The entrance exam is individual for each study programme direction.
Dates
Registration
You may apply from 15 December until 31 January.
The following documents must be handed in with your registration:
- A curriculum Vitae incl. motivational letter
- school leaving qualification (Matura, Abitur, Baccalauréat, High School-Diploma)
- Bachelor Diploma
- Second Master students: Master Diploma
On-site
The on-site auditions will take place between mid-March and mid-April. The exact dates may be seen here in the beginning of January.
Announcement of the results
The results of the first round/invitations for entrance exam on-site will be communicated by email by the end of February.
The results of the on-site entrance exam will be communicated by email in the beginning of May.
Procedure
The entrance exam consists of an on-site exam which is divided into two parts.
Note: Persons unable to take an on-site exam for visa, financial or environmental (long distance travel) reasons may submit a request for an online entrance exam (video presentation and live interview). This request must be sent to scb.hsm@fhnw.ch at the same time as the registration (by 31 January), stating the reasons, and must then be approved by the management.
I. Oral exam (in total 40')
Analysis (duration: 20’ / preparation: 40’)
Stilbereich nach Wahl. Die Aufgabenstellung erfolgt durch einen/eine examinierende/n Dozierende/n des Faches Satzlehre.
Playing a keyboard instrument (preferably harpsichord):
- a prepared piece
- a piece at first sight
- sight reading a thorough bass realisation
Ear training
- sight-sing a vocal piece of the 17th or 18th century
- notate a dictated four part choral piece
Sing and identify intervals played on the harpsichord in closed and open position, of seventh chords (7, 5/6, 3/4/6, 2/4/6) etc. can be checked too.
Interview
II. Verfassen einer Stilkopie, schriftlich (Dauer: 120’, mit Tasteninstrument)
Die Aufgabenstellung erfolgt durch einen/eine examinierende/n Dozierende/n des Faches Satzlehre nach vorheriger Absprache mit der Kandidatin / dem Kandidaten.
Please also refer to the document Eignungsabklärung.
Organisational matters
Advising and information events
Contact
Prof. Dr. Martin Kirnbauer
- Phone
- +41 61 264 57 41 (Direct)
+41 61 264 57 57 (Central office) - martin.kirnbauer@fhnw.ch
Information events
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Registration
The next registration window is open from 15th December to 31th January.