Music history: at City Lit
What is a music history course?
Music history courses are designed to help you explore new music and/or to find out more about the music you already enjoy. Please read Karen Betley's blog post Music History: an introduction to find out more.
I am a complete beginner in classical music, what do you recommend?
We have courses specially designed to introduce you to classical music and to help you get a clear overview of the topic. The emphasis here is on understanding the timeline of key works, and helping you find ones you enjoy.
- Exploring classical music is a music appreciation course in three terms (modules) and is a great way to start exploring
- Great work/artist/composer courses are short courses (usually just one or two sessions) dedicated to a famous composer, performer or piece of music
Our schedule of courses
*all courses with an asterisk in the list below are online courses
If any of the links in this blog post say ‘page not found’ please contact the music office and we’ll let you know when the next course is expected to take place.
Term 3: Spring/Summer 2024
Mondays
- MD663 An Introduction to Gurbāṇī Saṅgīta, 15/07/24, 11:00 - 16:00, 1 session, Cheslav Singh
Tuesdays
- MD612B The symphony: a short history, 23/04/24, 10:30 - 12:30, 10 sessions, Edward Henderson
- MD021C Exploring classical music: module 3, 23/04/24, 13:30 - 15:30, 10 sesions, Edward Breen
Wednesdays
- MD612B The music of Cuba, 01/05/24, 14:15 - 16:15, 5 sessions, Shyam Shah
Thursdays
- MD701B Great works: Stabat mater from plainchant to Pärt, 18/04/24, 10:30 - 15:30, 1 session, Trish Shaw
- MD999 Exploring opera 3, 25/04/24, 11: - 13:00, 10 sessions, Pauline Greene
- MD028 Operas in production, 25/04/24, 13:45 - 15:45, 10 sessions, Pauline Greene
- *MD020B Exploring classical music: module 2, 25/04/24, 16:00 - 17:30, 10 sessions, Neil Luck
- *MD025C Exploring classical music: module 3, 25/04/24, 18:00 - 19:30, 10 sessions, Neil Luck
Fridays
- *MD643A Musical analysis for audiences 1, 26/04/24, 10:30 - 12:30, 5 sessions, Pauline Greene
- *MD643C Musical analysis for audiences 2, 31/05/24, 10:30 - 12:30, 5 sessions, Pauline Greene
- *MD615C Music history book club: The Jewels of Paradise, 19/07/24, 11:00 - 12:30, 1 session, Edward Breen
Music history Summer shorts
- MD663 An Introduction to Gurbāṇī Saṅgīta, Mon 15/07/24, 11:00 - 16:00, 1 session, Cheslav Singh
- MD701C Great works: Rhapsody in Blue, Thurs 18/07/24, 11:00 - 13:00, 1 session, Pauline Greene
- MD038C Great artists: Leonard Bernstein, Thurs 18/07/24, 14:00 - 16:00, 1 session, Pauline Greene
- *MD040C Vibrato: a short study, Thurs 18/07/24, 14:00 - 16:00, 1 session, Edward Breen
- *MD615C Music history book club: The Jewels of Paradise, Fri 19/07/24, 11:00 - 12:30, 1 session, Edward Breen
- MD614 Classic albums 1966–1973: The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, David Bowie and Pink Floyd, Mon 22/07/24 - Thurs 25/07/24, 18:45 - 21:00, 4 sessions, Toby Manning
- MD897 Classical music: an introduction, 22/07/24, 13:30 - 16:30, 1 session, Pauline Greene
- MD900 Opera appreciation: an introduction, Thurs 25/07/24, 10:30 - 16:30, 1 session, Pauline Greene