At the centre of the "Music Theory and Applied Composition" field of study is the musical work or its equivalents. The understanding of compositions and their stylistic, cultural and historical categorisation is a focal point of all musicological work. However, the programme not only aims to offer a well-founded analytical approach, but also teaches the technical and aesthetic prerequisites for producing one's own pieces. Compositional training forms the basis for a deeper understanding of music at all levels and provides students with perspectives that go beyond mere observation and analysis, which is conducive to both a practical and theoretical orientation of studies and academic appointments. Students at the Institute of Music have already won numerous prizes in international composition competitions.

The music theory and practical compositional training is orientated towards the artistic concert work developed from the European music tradition from the Middle Ages to the present day. Other areas of specialisation include popular music and jazz as well as, to a lesser extent, musical folklore from all over the world.

Music theory

Students in the first semesters are taught the basics of understanding musical works. In particular, structural aspects of musical texture such as melody, harmony, motifs, instrumentation, counterpoint, etc. are at the centre of teaching, which should form a solid basis for musical analysis, historical classification and the production of own compositions and arrangements. Both contemporary and historical art music as well as pop and jazz are taught at the University of Oldenburg. In principle, all styles should be included in the course, but students can choose a specialisation in the first semesters by selecting music theory courses.

Analysis

Building on the content of music theory, analysis deals with the interaction of individual compositional aspects. The work is also analysed as part of an aesthetic, historical or genre-constitutive development. The focus here is on the formal design and the development of contexts, meaning and significance on a musical level. Since every analysis requires an objective in order not to get lost in the description of musical events, contexts from all areas of musicology play a role. The aim of the analysis seminars is therefore the ability to approach a musical composition in several ways and to gain insights into the solution of different questions.