DETAILED PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS
Entrance examintations for candidates who declare the choice of the speciality Composition (master’s degree):
Stage 1. The core subject examination – three components:
• A review of the candidate’s body of work – a minimum of five scores written by the candidate (with recordings if possible), proving the candidate has the knowledge and skills at the level required at the completion of the undergraduate (bachelor’s degree) programme in the composition speciality; a graduate of the bachelor’s degree in composition will present, among others, the piece of music presented at the degree graduation exam (diploma); each candidate will also present a chronological list of works and performances from at least the last 3 years.
• Self-presentation of the candidate – regarding his/her own work, artistic guiding principles, plans, etc.
• An oral examination in composition corresponding to the level required at the completion of the undergraduate (bachelor’s degree) programme in the field of composition styles and techniques (e.g. Messiaen’s modalism, dodecaphony, serialism, pointillism, structuralism, sonorism, aleatorism, controlled aleatorism, unism, polyphony of arches, hierarchical music, micropolyphony, spectralism, minimalism, contemporary vocal techniques, open form, etc.), instrumental studies and instrumentation (classical, romantic and modern), knowledge of the 20th-century and contemporary music, and the principles of functional harmony (including modulation)
Stage 2. Supplementary examinations (it does not apply to the candidates who have completed a programme of study in the fields of composition and theory of music and conducting within the Polish system of musical education)
• harmony – an oral practical examination
1. A proposal of the functional interpretation and harmonization of the provided soprano.
2. Performing harmonization of the provided melody line on the piano (in four-part or any other texture)
3. Performing the provided modulation on the piano (diatonic, chromatic or enharmonic – at the candidate’s option).
4. A harmonic analysis of a musical text fragment (classicism, romanticism – piano literature).
• ear training – an oral practical examination
1. An aural analysis of complex chord structures and harmonic patterns.
2. Voice performance of atonal melody and rhythmic exercises of considerable complexity.
• music literature – a written examination
Identification of an appropriate stylistic period or composer and a brief discussion of problems related to them – based on musical examples.