MUSIC AT CAIUS - Gonville and Caius College

Hanya Chlala/ArenaPALReading Music at CaiusCaius has one of the largest intakes ofmusic undergraduates among theCambridge Colleges (up to six studentseach year). The Music course is devisedand taught principally by the Faculty ofMusic, and is described on the Faculty’sweb pages (www.mus.cam.ac.uk).Studying Music at Caius is fundamentallyno different from studying Music at anyCambridge college, but there are anumber of factors concerning Caiuswhich might prove attractive whenchoosing a college. The College has twopermanent Fellows in Music, thecomposer Professor Robin Holloway, andthe Precentor (choir director) & Directorof Studies in Music Dr Geoffrey Webber.There is also currently a Research Fellowin Musicology, James Davies, who isworking on early nineteenth-centurymusic and society. As Director of Studiesin Music, Geoffrey Webber makesarrangements for the small group tuitionprovided by the College, and teachesHarmony & Counterpoint and Baroque music. RobinHolloway teaches composition as well as historicaltopics ranging from the Romantic period to the presentday. The College Library houses one of the largestcollege collections of books on music and has anexcellent supply of music scores, including completeeditions of Bach and Mozart and important historicalcollections such as Musica Britannica. The Collegeoperates a book allowance scheme, and assistsgenerously with the costs of tuition for those wishingto give a recital as part of their final exams. All Musicstudents at Caius have access to Sibeliusmusic software, and are provided with apiano in their room for three years. TheCollege is ideally placed geographicallyfor those reading Music; the mainaccommodation blocks at Harvey Courtare close to the Faculty of Music andalso to the University Library, whichhouses one of the finest musiccollections in the country. TheCollege’s Old Courts are situated in theheart of Cambridge, and close to thecity shops.

Music students at Caius have widely differing musicalinterests and backgrounds. Some have developed apassion for music principally through performance(including former members of the National YouthOrchestra of Great Britain), and others are dedicatedcomposers (including winners of The Guardian & BBCYoung Composer of the Year award), but the ability toperform or compose at a high level is not a prerequisitefor the study of Music as an academic subject. Thecharacteristic that unites all the Music students is thedesire to learn more about music; to discover howdifferent styles of music work at a technical level, andhow these styles relate to the varying historical andcultural contexts in which the music was composed.The course allows individuals to pursue particularinterests in whatever aspect of music they wish. RecentMusic students at Caius have written dissertations ontopics as wide-ranging as Schumann, Mahler,Schoenberg, Zemlinsky, Lutoslawksi, Messiaen, MilesDavis, Bob Dylan, Busi Mhlongo, the music ofTurkmenistan, and protest music against the Iraq War.Options in the Faculty of Music have allowed studentsto pursue other interests ranging from medieval musicto contemporary disciplines such as those studied at theFaculty’s Centre for Music and Science.q w q wApplying to read Music at CaiusFull details concerning the December interviews will besent to applicants following the closing date forAdmissions in October each year. Applications will beassessed on a variety of factors, including generalacademic record, examples of recent work (essays,compositions, Harmony & Counterpoint exercises, asappropriate), references, and the interview itself. As faras is possible, the personal and educational backgroundof applicants will be taken into account. Whilst thedetailed study of traditional Western harmony is usefulin advance of coming to Cambridge, a proven ability inthis area is not a requirement, as this is now taughtfrom scratch to those new to the discipline. It isrecommended that applicants should have keyboardskills of Grade 6 or above, though extra tuition in thisarea can be provided if necessary.

Musical FacilitiesThe regular venue for chamber music activities withinthe College is the Bateman Auditorium, which houses amodel B Steinway piano (2003). The College also hasseveral practice pianos both in the old part of Collegeand the main undergraduate blocks at Harvey Court. TheCollege has a fine 2-manual harpsichord by Mackinnonand Waitzmann (1996), based on a French model datingfrom 1711, which is available for practice and concertuse. The Chapel organ is a 3-manual Klais (1981) andalthough it is used mostly by the two Organ Scholars itis available to any member of College for practice.The College Library contains a large selection of musicscores and literature on music, and also has a collectionof chamber music, containing scores and parts for manyworks, as well as double copies of much solo vocalrepertoire (allowing both singer and accompanist to havea copy). A broad range of classical CDs is also availableand new purchases are made regularly, mostly at thesuggestion of students.2Music Prizes and AwardsEach year the College awards a number offinancial prizes and bursaries for music.The Compton Wills and Sir RudolphPeters funds allow prizes to be given inrecognition of outstanding contributionstowards the musical life of the College.The H. L. Perry is awarded for the finestinstrumental performance in a CollegeConcert during the course of the year. TheGrabowski Bursary helps one or morestudents each year to attend summercourses or receive specialist tuition in performance orconducting. Recent recipients have benefited fromattending courses at the Canford, Dartington andBritten-Pears Summer Schools and the Aspen StringCongress in Canada.222Eaden Lilley

1 21Contact detailsAppointments can be made at any time of theyear to visit Caius to talk to the Director ofMusic, Geoffrey Webber. Special College OpenDays are arranged by the Admissions Office.Dr Geoffrey Webbergaw25@cam.ac.uk (01223 332448)Professor Robin Hollowayrgh1000@cam.ac.ukAdmissions Officeadmissions@cai.cam.ac.uk (01223 332447)Designed and printed by Cambridge Printing, the printing business ofCambridge University Press. www.cambridgeprinting.orgqw q