The 18th Century saw the golden age of European art music – from the high Baroque of Bach and Vivaldi to the Classical Era of Haydn and Mozart. This course will discuss Baroque developments we take for granted today (such as chordal harmony and a “lead melody”) and the major innovations of the Classical Era (such as the symphony and sonata form, which gave us a purely instrumental musical narrative).
NOTE: This class is part of a 3-part series entitled European Classical Music History. Lectures may be registered for individually or as a series. Use code #114 for the series and the codes shown below for the other individual lectures.
Other lectures in the series:
#115 Medieval and Renaissance Music: The Roots of Europe's Classical Tradition
In a time before chords, the best songs were written by a nun, a dove, and lonely knights. This lecture discusses the early music of Europe, before modern ideas of harmony, key, rhythm, and instrumentation: a time dominated by peaceful, meditative vocal works. We'll discuss religious music (Gregorian chant and the interweaving melodies of Renaissance choral music), popular love songs (troubadour song and madrigal), and dance music.
#117 Romantic and Modern Classical Music
The 19th and 20th Centuries took the foundation of 18th-Century Classical Era music and exploded into many different directions. This course will discuss the new developments: program music, the abandonment of a common harmonic practice, ethnic and national elements, and so forth. We'll also discuss the continuities (such as instrumental ensembles and forms) and the more accessible traditional-minded composers (such as Brahms and the twentieth-century American symphonists).
Park in the lot at the back of the school off Rahway Avenue and enter building through the parking lot door. A site administrator will direct you to your classroom.