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. You don't need to read music notation but you do need to enjoy discussion and short home reading tasks
- Exploring classical music is a music appreciation course over three or four terms and is a great way to start exploring
- Exploring opera is a focused multi-term course for opera lovers and those who are curious about the history and development of this art form
- Listening to the 20th century is a survey course over 2 terms with a focus on 'classical music'
- The essential history of jazz in 20 cuts is our Jazz history survey ideal for beginners and experienced listeners
Other courses offer surveys or longer explorations of composers, genres and individual pieces. Scroll further down this page to see our listings for the terms ahead.
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 2: Winter/Spring 2026
Mondays
- MD030B Exploring classical music 2, 12/01/2026 (10) Edward Breen
- MD620 The essential history of jazz in 20 cuts, 12/01/2026, (10) Albi Gravener
- MD040B Great works: Arvo Pärt's Passio, 30/03/2026 (1) Edward Breen
Tuesdays
- MD998 Exploring opera 2, 13/01/2026 (10) Pauline Greene
- MD612B Listening to the 20th century 2, 13/01/2026 (10) Edward Henderson
- MD036B Michael Tippett: an introduction to his music, 13/01/2026 (5) Katy Hamilton
- MD036C Florence Price: an introduction to her music, 24/02/2026 (5) Katy Hamilton
Wednesdays
- *MD023 Beethoven's Vienna, 14/01/2026 (10) Katy Hamilton
- MD038B Symphonies in production, 14/01/2026 (10) Pauline Greene
- MD701B Great composers: Aaron Copland, 01/04/2026 (1) Trish Shaw
Thursdays
- MD815 Exploring Bach's cantatas, 15/01/2026 (10) Edward Breen
- *MD025A Exploring classical music 1, 15/01/2026 (10) Neil Luck
- *MD020C Exploring classical music 3, 15/01/2026 (10) Neil Luck
Fridays
- *MD029 Introduction to the orchestra, 16/01/2026 (8) Pauline Greene
- *MD615D Music history bookclub: Death on the Downbeat, 13/02/26 (1) Katy Hamilton
Term 3: Spring/Summer 2026
In progress: more summer courses to come July/August
Mondays
- MD030C Exploring classical music 3, 20/04/2026 (10) Edward Breen
Tuesdays
- MD041A Erik Satie: an introduction to his music, 21/04/2026 (5) Edward Henderson
- MD999 Exploring opera 3, 21/04/2026 (10) Pauline Greene
- MD036D Music in the Weimar republic, 21/04/2026 (10) Katy Homden
- MD041B Steve Reich: an introduction to his music, 02/06/2026 (5) Edward Henderson
Wednesdays
- MD028 Operas in production, 22/04/2026 (10) Pauline Greene
NB: you may also be interested in German for opera lovers (various levels available)
Thursdays
- *MD025B Exploring classical music 2, 23/04/2026 (10) Neil Luck
- *MD020D Exploring classical music 4, 23/04/2026 (10) Neil Luck
- MD816 Madrigals: a brief history, 23/04/2026 (10) Edward Breen
- MD701C Great works: Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, 23/07/26 (1) Trish Shaw
Fridays
- *MD615B Music history bookclub: Viva Violetta and Verdi, 24/04/26 (1) Edward Breen
- *MD615C Music history bookclub: Charles Jessold, Considered as a Murderer, 17/07/26 (1) Edward Breen
Weekends
- HLT394 Exploring classical music in novels, 04/07/26 (1) Edward Breen
Related courses from other
departments at City Lit
- German for opera lovers (various levels available)
- America in the 60s: culture and society
- When Cinema meets Music
- Loving the Alien: David Bowie's Music Videos and Filmography
- Protesting to the Beat: music and revolution in Latin America
- When Cinema meets Music
- Psalms and Prayer: their use in church and synagogue through music and the arts
- London Calling (walking tour)
- David Bowie’s Soho (walking tour)
- No tolerance of undeserving rank and splendour': the Nineteenth Century through Gilbert & Sullivan
- The Grand Tour: antiquity, art and cultural encounters
