Audition Repertoire and Requirements - Graduate studies

Composition

A -The candidate is required to present 3 compositions according to the following specifications:

1) An instrumental chamber music work

2) A work for a cappella choir

3) A work for a vocal soloist or a group of vocal soloists with ensemble (6 or more instruments) or a short  work for instrumental ensemble of at least 12 instruments to a full Symphony Orchestra.

The candidate must be prepared to discuss those works and present them in the entrance interview.

B- A written or oral theoretic-analytic exam which will test the candidate about issues as harmonic formal and motive analysis as well as subjects related to musical insights and ideas.

C- A test of basic abilities in score reading. (Please prepare an excerpt and be ready to get a sight reading exercise.)

D- Aural abilities: identification by ear of chords, melodic dictation and harmonic dictation.

It will be decided according the results of the entrance exam procedure if the candidate needs to take some additional courses from the B. Mus. program as required complement to the acceptance to graduate studies.

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Orchestral Conducting

A. Conducting the following works (with two pianos):

     Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 ("Eroica")

     Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique (First Movement).

     Debussy: "La mer" (Third Movement).

     Stravinsky: Rite of Spring: From Number 142 to the End of the work (Danse sacrale)

B. Candidates will have to talk about and analyze two of the works conducted, using the piano to demonstrate.

C. Candidates will be required to demonstrate a good command of score reading (including a short passage prepared in advance as well as sight reading exercises).

D. Aural skills (ear training, identifying chords, etc.) and sight singing.

Based on the results of the admission procedure, candidates may be required to attend certain courses of the B. Mus. curriculum.

Choral conducting

Applicants in choral conducting who have successfully passed the entrance examination in theory will be invited for an individual interview.

The objective of the interview is to become acquainted with the ability, background and musical experience of the applicant in the field of choral conducting.

Background in artistic choir singing is desirable.

The requirements of the interview are:

a)  Conduct one of the pieces from the following list (in front of pianos). 

b)  Proficiency in score reading - the candidates will prepare at least  20 measures from a work parallel or higher in level of difficulty of Bruckner's motet Locus iste. Also, candidates are required to sight-read part of a 4-voice choral by Bach (modern notation). 

c)  Singing three out of five choral pieces from the list on the piano and singing of all parts using proper pronunciation and punctuation.

d)  A discussion about the three works/songs for choir chosen by the applicant. The discussion will focus on the following subjects: understanding of the text, the structure and style of the piece.

e) The interview will also include basic ear-training evaluation (identification of intervals and triad chords). 

1.       Orlando di Lasso – one motet of "super flumina Babylonis"

2.       J.S.Bach - "Gute Nacht" from motet no. 1 (Jesu Meine Freude)

3.       W.A.Mozart - "Hostias" from Requiem

4.       A. Bruckner – motet "Locus Iste"

5.       Z. Avni – a movement from "Mizmorei Tehilim"