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BA Composition Course Description

BA Composition

Individual lessons one on one with a composition teacher, developing one's own compositions and analyzing pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries

  • Analyzing and composing pieces, form exercises in the style and using the techniques of classical composers, such as J. Haydn, W.A.Mozart, L van Beethoven
  • Vocal counterpoint: based upon the style of Palestrina
  • Instrumental counterpoint: based upon the style of the 2 and 3 part inventions and fugues by J.S. Bach. Analysis and composition
  • Exercises in the style and using the technique of a few representative composers of the 20th century. E.g.: A. Webern, J. Cage, P. Boulez.   
  • Analysis and composition  
  • Performance and recording of the compositions  
  • Prosody; basic knowledge of constructing poetry, composing for vocal idioms
  • Orchestration, based on the techniques of historical eras. E.g.: W. A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, F. Liszt, B. Bartók       
  • Performance of the student orchestrations by a professional orchestra
  • Collaboration and creative work with students from the different instrumental departments
  • Basics of  electronic music  with new technology, learning with MAX/MSP
  • Piano, score reading, music history, theory, aural training, conducting, folk music
  • Performance of the final, BA diploma piece(s)

BA Electronic Music Media Art

The specialization, launched in 2011 at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, aims to provide composers and sound designers who utilize electronic devices and computers with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge characteristic of this field at a university level.

Over the 3-year BA program, students study the history of electroacoustic and computer music, compositional techniques, and the most commonly used programs and programming languages. They gain expertise in using software for sound analysis, sound generation, sound transformation, MIDI/OSC editing, interactive music creation, and algorithmic music.

Through the acquired tools and programming languages, students create exercises in electroacoustic and computer music styles, compositional studies, original works, and independent music projects. A key focus of the program is exploring emerging new genres enabled by the advent of computers and developing interdisciplinary artistic works.

BA Applied Music Composition

The Franz Liszt Academy of Music (FLAM) together with the University of Theatre and Film Arts Budapest (UTFA) is pleased to offer their combined course for those interested in composing for theater and motion picture. The context of the program of study is the great Hungarian tradition of film composers, such as: Miklos Rozsa, Ferenc Farkas and musical theater, operetta composers, such as Emmerich Kalman and Franz Lehar.  

Our students will analyze and write compositions using a variety of historic techniques and styles. Students will study and write pieces in the styles of the Renaissance – (J. Ockeghem, G. Palestrina, O.Lassus), Baroque – (J.S. Bach, G. Handel, A. Vivaldi) Romanticism – (F. Liszt, F. Chopin). Special consideration will be given to 20th- and 21st century compositional tendencies and techniques. Students will be required to write exercises using the techniques of the 20th century, studying and gaining understanding of the styles of B. Bartók, A. Schönberg, A. Webern, P. Boulez and J. Cage.

It does not necessarily follow that a traditionally trained composer will automatically be a good film or theater composer. To feel the special, unmistakable air of stage, one has to experience the life of theater to understand the role and function of music in theater. The same is also true for film music composition: besides traditional compositional training the emergent composer needs to be aware of today's technology and high level studio work.  

Our department offers students the unique opportunity to work as composers alongside students aspiring to become directors, filmmakers, playwrights, scriptwriters, editors, choreographers and actors. Students of these different disciplines will work closely together – taking certain combined classes together, from which personal and professional bonds will grow facilitating creative collaborations.

To develop composition skills for the theater, our students will collaborate with theater students and will have the opportunity to write incidental music for final theater productions, songs within different genres. Instruction will be given in the process of musical rehearsal with actors.

Similarly, students will participate creatively in the film making process. A composer will be teamed with a director, cinematographer, scriptwriter, sound recordist, sound designer, editor and producer to create a short film for their final exam.

The program includes a comprehensive introduction to the art of film making and explores the various skills involved in direction, visual composition, editing and pacing and scriptwriting. In addition it covers the general history and development of the moving image. The courses will be taught by professors of UTFA.

The Liszt Academy traditionally offers strong instrumental programs, and our composition students will have the opportunity to compose for instrumental students. Student composers will have the opportunity to have their compositions performed by the Academy's instrumental students in several yearly concerts.

The Liszt Academy of Music is member of the European Bologna System network, therefore our Bachelor of Music in Composition and Master's Degree in Composition are both equivalent with similar US and European music degrees.  

Besides the 3 year B.Mus program, the Liszt Academy also offers a one year certificate program.  In case you are interested, for further information, please contact the Liszt Academy.