Composing and Presenting New Music in Erasmus+ Transnational Projects: Roisin Blunnie and Laura Shiels

https://kodalyhub.com/presto

https://kodalyhub.com/presto/categories/developing-polyphonic-skills-using-canon-exercises

Canon in 7-8 time 

Canon 'Summer's Coming'

Canon with whole tone set 'Scary Sights Scary Soungs'

Abstract

This participatory workshop explores new music composed as part of transnational research projects involving partner institutions and organisations from across Europe. Drawing on two choral-faced Erasmus+ projects, researchers from Dublin City University present a selection of canons (rounds) by Irish composer Laura Shiels, outlining the musical, social, and pedagogical priorities associated with the compositions. Participants will perform a selection of canons and engage with freely available interactive online resources for self-directed and collaborative skill development by choral conductors, music teachers, choral singers, and musicians more broadly.

The workshop will use participatory methods to demonstrate how the compositions were tailored specifically to align with the goals of the transnational projects, particularly with regard to musical innovation, accessibility and challenges, inclusion and community building, and applicability to a range of music-learning contexts. The presenters will discuss considerations such as vocal range, musical accessibility, expressive themes, use of lyrics and solfa, pedagogical flexibility, and music-leadership approaches, and how these were incorporated in a user-friendly format. The relationship of the new compositions to existing canon repertoire will be highlighted, with a particular focus on how less common musical features such as unusual time signatures and tone sets are integrated. Overall, the workshop explores the potential of newly composed canons to develop choral sound and transcend barriers while achieving creative and social goals in an adaptive, inclusive and enjoyable way.

Biographies 

Roisin Blunnie is Associate Professor of Music and Programme Chair of the MA in Choral Studies at Dublin City University. She was the DCU team lead for the Erasmus+ project PRESTO, in collaboration with partners in Hungary, Finland, Scotland, and Ireland, and was closely involved in the creation of the project's multimedia resources for the choral sector. Roisin is the co-editor of Perspectives on Conducting, recently published by Routledge. She conducts the award-winning Dublin-based chamber choir Laetare Vocal Ensemble, as well as the large undergraduate choir DCU Lumen Chorale.

roisin.blunnie@dcu.ie

Laura Shiels is a researcher, choral composer, and music tutor based in Dublin. She is currently a PhD student at Dublin City University, analysing Irish contemporary music under the supervision of Dr Roisin Blunnie. As a choral composer, Laura's compositions have been published by Cailino Music Publishers and have been performed by choral groups in Ireland and abroad. Her choral music has featured on RTE Lyric FM and features in UCD Choral Scholars' new album of settings by James Joyce's Chamber Music (Signum Records). She is also an active choral singer with Laetare Vocal Ensemble, Dublin.

laura.sheils4@mail.dcu.ie 

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