English Literature and Music BA (Hons)

About This Course

Studying English Literature and Music is a brilliant way to develop your skills and insights in both areas. Half your modules will be in English Literature, and half in Music. You will develop a thorough knowledge of literary texts, theory, history and criticism, and pursue creative studies from a selection of musical performance, composition and musicology modules. Our close links with local theatres, poetry groups and vibrant student societies – including our Bangor English Drama Society (BEDS) and the University Music Society – will give you plenty of opportunities to get involved in arts and culture.

English Literature provides the chance to develop a thorough knowledge of literary texts, theory, history and criticism. You have the opportunity to study a broad range of English Literature in small groups, led by the research experts in the field, in an atmosphere of creative, scholarly enterprise in order to develop skills of critical analysis that are highly valued by employers. You will also be able to connect your English and Music studies through the interdisciplinary work in the interaction of words and music both in creative practice and from a historical perspective, as well as exploring the literary aspects of setting texts to music.

As a musician, you will be part of a thriving music and arts community performing and attending music and performances at Powis Hall, John Phillips Theatre and the magnificent Prichard-Jones Hall. You will enjoy unrivalled facilities in our arts and innovation centre, Pontio, which includes a Studio Theatre for performance with technical support from industry professionals. Pontio also features the 450-seat Theatre Bryn Terfel which regularly attracts world-class theatre productions and musical events. You will also benefit from Bangor’s excellent links with leading organisations including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (with whom we have an annual composition workshop), the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and Sain Records.

Why choose Bangor for this course?

• Flexible degree structure to tailor the course to your interests and strengths.
• Close links with Pontio Arts Centre, local theatres, poetry groups and student societies – including the Bangor English Drama Society (BEDS).
• A dynamic music-making community: choirs, orchestras, bands, student ensembles and the Bangor University Music Society.

Course Content

Your English Literature and Music degree programme at Bangor is flexible: you will shape your degree course to reflect your interests and strengths. Our courses have been devised and are delivered by staff committed to helping you develop your subject-specific knowledge, whilst giving you the freedom to discover and explore your own interests. In both subject areas you will be taught by internationally-renowned researchers and practitioners.

You will be offered the chance to study a broad range of English Literature – encompassing a variety of genres and periods – introducing you to a wide range of cultures and intellectual traditions. In Music, you will begin your studies in a genuinely all-embracing way, engaging with musical theory and practice from modal polyphony to electroacoustic composition. You will use this broad framework as a launch pad for developing your own expertise in one of several fields of musicology, performance or composition. This can include 20th-century music, classical performance, music and text, editing, music in health and well-being, and all styles of composition.

Students benefit from small seminar groups, one-to-one tutorials, workshops and lectures. You will spend time on background reading and listening to music, engaging with creative and critical work, preparing for seminars, completing essays and coursework. You will also spend time rehearsing and performing in ensembles, choirs and orchestras, and working with fellow students to develop and express ideas. In Music, you have the option of choosing Solo Performance, taught through an innovative combination of individual tuition, workshops and masterclasses. Several modules involve visits to theatres, concerts, recording studios and composition workshops, or the opportunity to meet and interview, visiting authors.