MA in Music (Historical Musicology), Goldsmiths, University of London

MA in Music (Historical Musicology)

The MA in Music (Historical Musicology) is designed to help musicians of all kinds to work with original sources, to read and edit documents, and to embark upon their own research. It encourages an awareness of, and engagement with, the most recent critical theories of music. It is designed to provide preparation for those who wish to be involved in teaching, editorial work, journalistic criticism, lecturing, research at MPhil/PhD level, broadcasting, librarianship or historically aware performance.

Length:
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time.

Applying:

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You will normally be required to attend an interview, and you may be asked to submit examples of your written work in advance. If you wish to be exempted from interview, you should send at least one example of your written work in English (such as an essay of at least 1,500 words on a relevant topic), certified to be your own.

Find out more about applying

Entrance requirements:

You should normally have, or expect to have, a first-class or upper second-class Honours degree in Music, or an equivalent qualification. Your qualification should comprise a substantial academic element relevant to the selected MA pathway and option choices. For the generic MA in Music award you should write a detailed proposal explaining the rationale for your choices and how these provide a coherent programme of study leading to dissertation. A detailed transcript of your degree is preferred.

We also encourage applications from people without formal qualifications who can demonstrate equivalent professional experience, in which case you are advised to enclose with your application examples of your written work.

If your first language is not English, please check our English Language requirements.

Careers:
The programme is designed to provide preparation for those who wish to be involved in teaching, editorial work, journalistic criticism, lecturing, research at MPhil/PhD level, broadcasting, librarianship, or historically aware performance.

Skills:
Investigation and evaluation skills; intellectual skills in music; specific research skills.

Fees:
Please see Tuition fees.

Staff research interests:
Please see Staff research interests.

Contact the department:
Contact Anthony Pryer

About the department:
Music

Download a booklet [PDF, 712KB]

The core courses provide systematic introductions to paleography, codicology, transcription, editing, archival work, and music printing. The options either focus upon the conceptual and critical fields within which musicologists operate or provide access to a range of repertories and musical cultures. The skills learnt in your coursework will culminate in the methods and approaches demonstrated in your dissertation. The course is enhanced by visits to the British Library, Sotheby’s auction house, and other relevant institutions in and around London.

What you study

The programme comprises:

1. Core (two courses): Sources and Resources, Working with Original Musical Documents.

2. Options. (two courses): Contemporary Ethnomusicology, Contemporary Music: Practices and Debates, Musicological Theory, Philosophies of Music, Soviet Music and Politics, Traditions of Practice.

3. Dissertation.

Register your interest

If you register your interest in this programme we will keep you informed about open days and send you relevant further information. If you subsequently decide to apply for this programme you will be able to use the same login details to apply.