Requirements for the Church Music master’s program.

The following requirements apply for the Church Music (Lutheran and Catholic) major:

For prospective Instrumental majors:

1. Main exam content: Organ Literature:
a) performing five works from different style periods:
– A work from before the time of Bach
– Two works by J. S. Bach: a) prelude and fugue b) a fast movement of a trio sonata (or similar work)
– A Romantic work and a work from the 20th or 21st century
b) Sightreading

2. Main exam content: Liturgical Organ Playing/Improvisation:
a) prepared:
– Performance of a more extensive chorale prelude followed by accompaniment of congregational singing (3 verses in contrasting styles) for a hymn of the musician’s choice
– Performance of a partita or variations based on a hymn of the musician’s choice or performance of a more extensive improvisation, without a cantus firmus, based on a theme of the musician’s choice

b) unprepared:
– Audition pieces and hymn accompaniment
– Alternatively: performance of a more extensive introduction and the accompaniment for a modern hymn tune OR performance of a paraphrase based on a plainsong theme

3. Further contents of examination:
– A 30-minute rehearsal (of an a cappella choral work) with the chamber choir of the Institute of Church Music
– Performance of an art song or performance of an aria from a full-scale sacred vocal composition.

For prospective Vocal/Ensemble majors:

1. Main exam contents
a) prepared:
– A 30-minute rehearsal (of an a cappella choral work) with the chamber choir of the Institute of Church Music
– Conducting the opening section of the Gloria from the Missa cum iubilo by M. Duruflé
– Presenting a passage of the musician’s choice from an oratorio by playing directly from the score at the piano
– Performance of an art song or performance of an aria from a full-scale sacred vocal composition.

b) unprepared:
– Sightreading from a choral score in modern clefs
– Sight-singing.

2. Further exam contents:
a) Organ literature playing: performing five works from different style periods: including a prelude and fugue by J. S. Bach or similar work
b) Liturgical organ playing/Improvisation: prepared: – performance of a more extensive chorale prelude followed by accompaniment of congregational singing (3 verses in contrasting styles) for a hymn of the musician’s choice, unprepared: Audition pieces and hymn accompaniment in varying styles or forms

For prospective Church Music Promotion majors:
 
1. Main exam contents: Organ literature playing:
– Performing three works from different style periods: a work by J. S. Bach (prelude and fugue, movement from a trio sonata or similar repertoire), a Romantic piece, a work from the 20th or 21st century.
– Sightreading

2. Main exam contents: Liturgical organ playing/improvisation:
a) prepared: Performance of a more extensive chorale prelude followed by accompaniment of congregational singing (3 verses in contrasting styles) for a hymn of the musician’s choice.
b) unprepared:
– Preludes and hymn accompaniment
– Alternatively: performance of a more extensive introduction and the accompaniment for a modern hymn tune OR performance of a paraphrase of a plainsong theme

3. Main exam content: Church Music Promotion
Presentation of an originally developed concept for a parish project focused on church music. The topic may come from all church music subject areas.

4. Further exam contents:
– A 30-minute rehearsal (of an a cappella choral work) with the chamber choir of the Institute of Church Music
– Performance of an art song or performance of an aria from a full-scale sacred vocal composition.

Contact:
Prof. Jürgen Kursawa