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 works 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’ just contact the music office and we’ll let you know when the next course is expected to take place.
Autumn term 2022
Monday
- MD029 Introduction to the orchestra, 19/09/2022, 5sessions, 10:30, Pauline Greene
- MD997 Exploring opera 1, 19/09/2022, 10sessions, 13:15, Pauline Greene
- MD027 Introduction to contemporary classical music, 31/10/2022, 5sessions, 10:30, Pauline Greene
- MD038A Great works: White Christmas, 05/12/2022, 1session, 10:30, Pauline Greene
- *MD615A Music history book club, 12/12/2022, 1session, 14:30, Edward Breen
Tuesday
- MD021A Exploring classical music: module 1, 20/09/2022, 10sessions, 13:30, Karen Betley
- MD604 Wagner's Ring Cycle, 20/09/2022, 10sessions, 15:30, Karen Betley
- MD701A Great composers: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 13/12/2022, 1session, 10:30, Trish Shaw
Wednesday
- *MD036A The long 19th century I: Romantics, poets and virtuosos, 21/09/2022, 10sessions, 10:30, Katy Hamilton
- *MD6660 Miles Davis: from Bebop to Hip-hop, 02/11/2022,4 sessions 19:00, Albi Gravener
Thursday
- *MD600 Beethoven: the late string quartets, 22/09/2022, 10 sessions, 10:30, Karen Betley
- *MD047A Topics in Renaissance music 1, 22/09/2022, 10sessions, 14:00, Patrick Allies
- MD703A Musical criticism: a history, 22/09/2022, 10sessions, 14:00, Katy Hamilton
- *MD020C Exploring classical music: module 3, 22/09/2022, 10sessions 16:00, Neil Luck
- *MD654A Exploring classical music: module 1, 22/09/2022, 10sessions, 18:00, Neil Luck
- *MD039A Great works: Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik, 08/12/2022, 1session, 10:30, Karen Betley
- *MD040A Christmas Carols: a brief history, 08/12/2022, 1session, 14:00, Edward Breen
Winter/Spring 2023
Monday
- MD026 Introduction to musicals, 16/01/2023, 5sessions, 10:30, Pauline Greene
- MD998 Exploring opera 2, 16/01/2023, 10sessions, 13:15, Pauline Greene
- MD028 Introduction to film music, 27/02/2023, 5sessions, 10:30, Pauline Greene
- *MD615B Music history book club, 03/04/2023, 1sessions, 14:30, Edward Breen
- MD038B Great works: The Beggar's Opera, 03/04/2023, 1session, 10:30, Pauline Greene
Tuesday
- MD612A Exploring classical music: module 4, 17/01/2023, 10sessions, 10:30, Edward Henderson
- MD021B Exploring classical music: module 2, 17/01/2023, 10sessions, 13:30, Karen Betley
- MD023 Bach: instrumental works, 17/01/2023, 10sessions, 15:30, Karen Betley
- MD039B Great works: Brahms's Clarinet Quintet, 04/04/2023, 1session, 15:30, Karen Betley
Wednesday
- *MD036B The long 19th century II: Salons and symphonies, 18/01/2023, 10sessions, 10:30, Katy Hamilton
Thursday
- *MD022 Monteverdi and the musical Baroque, 19/01/2023, 10sessions, 10:30, Karen Betley
- MD703B Rachmaninov: an introduction, 19/01/2023, 5sessions, 14:00, Katy Hamilton
- *MD047B Topics in Renaissance music 2, 19/01/2023, 10sessions, 14:00, Patrick Allies
- *MD020A Exploring classical music: module 1, 19/01/2023, 10sessions, 16:00, Neil Luck
- *MD654B Exploring classical music: module 2, 19/01/2023, 10sessions, 18:00, Neil Luck
- MD703C Amy Beach: an introduction, 02/03/2023, 5sessions, 14:00, Katy Hamilton
- *MD040B Great works: Allegri's Miserere, 06/04/2023, 1session, 11:00, Edward Breen
- MD041B Great works: Grieg's Piano Concerto, 06/04/2023, 1session, 14:00, Katy Hamilton
Spring/Summer 2023
Monday
- MD643A Introduction to musical analysis, 24/04/2023, 10sessions, 10:30, Pauline Greene
- MD999 Exploring opera 3, 24/04/2023, 10sessions, 13:15, Pauline Greene
- *MD600A The piano and modernism 1880-1930, 15/05/23, 8sessions, 12.30, Karl Lutchmayer
- MD038C Great artists: Enrico Caruso, 24/07/2023, 1session, 10:30, Pauline Greene
- *MD615C Music history book club, 17/07/2023, 1session, 14:30, Edward Breen
Tuesday
- MD612B The music of the Ballet Russes, 25/04/2023, 10sessions, 10:30, Edward Henderson
- MD021C Exploring classical music: module 3, 25/04/2023, 10sessions, 13:30, Edward Breen
- MD504 Early music in the 20th century, 25/04/23, 10sessions, 15:30, Edward Breen
- *MD662 Pop music: a brief history, 30/05/2023, 10sessions, 19:00, Toby Manning
Wednesday
- *MD036C The long 19th century III: national pride and new directions, 26/04/2023, 10sessions, 10:30, Katy Hamilton
- MD701C Great works: Stravinsky's Les Noces, 19/07/2023, 1session, 10:30, Trish Shaw
Thursday
- *MD047C Topics in Renaissance music 3 , 27/04/2023, 10sessions, 14:00, Patrick Allies
- *MD020B Exploring classical music: module 2, 27/04/2023, 10sessions, 16:00, Neil Luck
- *MD654C Exploring classical music: module 3, 27/04/2023, 10sessions, 18:00, Neil Luck
- *MD040C Great artists: castrati, 20/07/2023, 1session, 14:00, Edward Breen
Friday
- *MD665B MGM musicals, 09/06/2023, 5sessions, 10:30, Pauline Greene
- *MD665C Great composers: Stephen Sondheim, 14/07/2023, 2sessions, 10:30, Pauline Greene
Sunday
- *MD651 Jazz piano: a history from blues to bebop and beyond, 04/06/2023, 5sessions, 11:00, Sara Dhillon
